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• empire builder
  empire builder

  noun

  a person who plans or works to extend dominion or control, as over territory, political organizations, or business enterprises.
• empire-builder
  empire-builder

  noun

  a person who seeks extra power for its own sake, esp by increasing the number of his subordinates or staff

empire builder

American  

noun

1. a person who plans or works to extend dominion or control, as over territory, political organizations, or business enterprises.

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empire-builder British  

noun

1. informal a person who seeks extra power for its own sake, esp by increasing the number of his subordinates or staff

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• empire-building
  noun

Etymology

Origin of empire builder

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

CEO and controlling shareholder Brian Roberts has been viewed as an empire builder, but that could be changing.

From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025

His notion of fast-casual mirrors that of Italian empire builder Fabio Trabocchi, another discerning Washington tastemaker.

From Washington Post • Jul. 25, 2022

While officials announced that the school would be renamed after Matobo — also called Matopo or Matopos by visitors — the president joked about the British empire builder.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2017

He was a mighty empire builder out of an Ayn Rand novel, biding his time amid the weaklings and plotting his revenge.

From New York Times • Jul. 24, 2013

In our time much has been said of the ability of such a man as Cecil Rhodes and what he accomplished as an empire builder in South Africa.

From The Century of Columbus by Walsh, James J.