a member of the lowest grade of nobility.
(in Britain)
a feudal vassal holding his lands under a direct grant from the king.
a direct descendant of such a vassal or his equal in the nobility.
a member of the House of Lords.
an important financier or industrialist, especially one with great power in a particular area.
an oil baron.
a cut of mutton or lamb comprising the two loins, or saddle, and the hind legs.
a member of a specific rank of nobility, esp the lowest rank in the British Isles
(in Europe from the Middle Ages) originally any tenant-in-chief of a king or other overlord, who held land from his superior by honourable service; a land-holding nobleman
a powerful businessman or financier
a press baron
English law (formerly) the title held by judges of the Court of Exchequer
short for baron of beef
1200–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French < Late Latin barōn- (stemof barō ) man < Germanic; sense “cut of beef ” perhaps by analogy with the fanciful analysis of sirloin as “Sir Loin”
A baron is a nobleman — a member of the aristocracy. Barons are also important, powerful businessmen with huge influence over their industries. In Britain, a baron is called “Lord,” but in the States, we call them “rich.” Barons are members of the aristocracy — wealthy people born into power and influence. How high a baron ranks depends on the country, but the title always carries respect. Similarly, a business leader who is rich, powerful, and influential is a baron. The term is used in phrases such as oil baron and baron of industry. You can also call that kind of baron a big businessman, magnate, mogul, top executive, or tycoon.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Adora is also in possession of “one of the weirder jobs”: a fellowship from the partially paralyzed, mind-bogglingly rich descendant of a steel baron to provide moral training to his spoiled, acquisitive preteen twin sons.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Not because Mullin, a wealthy plumbing baron from Oklahoma who’s served in Washington since 2013, has a distinguished legislative record.
From Slate • Mar. 7, 2026
Anna Murdoch-Mann, writer and ex-wife of media baron Rupert Murdoch, has died aged 81, his media outlets have announced.
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026
Government and private money are flowing in quantities that would make a Gilded Age robber baron blush.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 23, 2025
“I represent a group called the Foundation for Atmospheric Research and Monitoring, which was created by a remarkable man named William Maxwell, the twenty-fourth baron of Aisling.”
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
