robber baron

American  

noun

1. History/Historical. a noble who robbed travelers passing through his lands.

2. a ruthlessly powerful U.S. capitalist or industrialist of the late 19th century considered to have become wealthy by exploiting natural resources, corrupting legislators, or other unethical means.

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Etymology

Origin of robber baron

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Government and private money are flowing in quantities that would make a Gilded Age robber baron blush.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 23, 2025

A notorious strikebreaker noted for paying his workers abysmally low wages, the complicated robber baron also publicly supported progressive tax laws, including estate taxes.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 6, 2023

Jay Gould, a robber baron of the late 19th century who helped build the U.S. railroad network system, funded deals partly with wealth accumulated through his Wall Street gambles.

From New York Times • May 20, 2022

Describing it, he invoked the mustachioed robber baron: “It was made in the first decade of this century for J.P. Morgan.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2021

His position in the world was somewhat like that of a robber baron in the Middle Ages, carving out a kingdom with the help of loyal followers.

From Swirling Waters by Rittenberg, Max