1. A military commander or leader of a Cossack community, especially in Ukraine and southern Russia.
Usage: historical; also spelled 'hetman' in some contexts

Examples

• The ataman led his Cossack forces across the steppes.
• In the 17th century, the ataman held significant power in Ukrainian society.
• The village elected a new ataman to oversee their defense.
• Historical records describe the ataman as a skilled military strategist.
• The ataman's authority extended over several Cossack settlements.