tycoon
Americannoun
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a person of great wealth, influence, or power; magnate.
a business tycoon; a political tycoon.
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(often initial capital letter) a title used with reference to the shogun of Japan.
noun
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a business man of great wealth and power
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an archaic name for a shogun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tycoon
1855–60; < Japanese taikun < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese dà great + jūn prince
Explanation
If you are meeting with someone who is considered a tycoon in his industry, keep in mind that he is very successful and probably accustomed to high-stakes negotiations. Tycoon is derived from the Japanese word taikun, which means “great lord or prince.” This noun made its way to the West in the mid-19th century and originally referred to the shogun, or military leader, of Japan. It was also used in reference to Abraham Lincoln to indicate that he was an important man. Now, tycoons are generally understood to be unusually successful heads of business or industry.
Vocabulary lists containing tycoon
Outliers
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This Week In Words: August 30–September 4, 2020
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From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Appeared in the July 3, 2026, print edition as 'Korean Tycoon Cashes In on War'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
Tycoon Surinder Arora, who makes a speciality of providing rooms for aircrew near airports, wants his company to install a 2,800-metre runway which would not involve moving the motorway.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
Set at the Tycoon Correctional Facility, Ty Dolla Sign showed up to the Sahara Tent in handcuffs and a face mask.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2025
"Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon" hit the shelves as Bankman-Fried's criminal trial began in Manhattan on Tuesday.
From Reuters • Oct. 3, 2023
Tycoon Howard Hughes made an appearance at the lab’s 1934 research conference, and Hollywood showed up at the airfield to shoot the 1938 movie Test Pilot, starring Clark Gable, Spencer Tracey, and Myrna Loy.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
