zaibatsu

[ zahy-bah-tsoo ]

noun

, plural zai·ba·tsu.

1. a large industrial or financial conglomerate of Japan.

zaibatsu

/ ˈzaɪbætˈsuː /

noun

1. functioning as singular or plural the group or combine comprising a few wealthy families that controls industry, business, and finance in Japan

Word History and Origins

Origin of zaibatsu¹

First recorded in 1935–40; from Japanese, equivalent to zai “wealth,” (from Middle Chinese dzoi, Mandarin Chinese cái ) + batsu “powerful clique” (from Middle Chinese bjot “powerful family,” Mandarin Chinese fá ); chaebol ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of zaibatsu¹

from Japanese, from zai wealth, from Chinese ts'ai + batsu family, person of influence, from Chinese fa