captains of industry

1. A phrase that is sometimes used to describe businesspeople who are especially successful and powerful.

More About Captains Of Industry

What does captains of industry mean?

Captains of industry is a phrase used to refer to incredibly wealthy or successful businesspeople, especially those who own large companies or many factories,  as in The protestors were angry with the captains of industry who had profited by exploiting foreign labor. 

Sometimes, the singular captain of industry is used, as in Mortimer was a captain of industry who spent lavishly on private dinner parties. 

Example: The proposed carbon emissions bill had no chance of passing after it was opposed by the influential captains of industry. 

Where does captains of industry come from?

The phrase captains of industry was coined by English historian Thomas Carlyle in his 1843 book Past and Present. In the book, Carlyle argues that wealthy businessmen, and not the British government, were the only people capable of pulling the lower class out of crippling poverty. Carlyle praised the wealthy elite’s leadership and so referred to them as captains, meaning “leaders,” of industry, meaning “commercial enterprise.”

Usually, captains of industry is a positive term to describe businesspeople as being notably powerful, wealthy, successful, or influential. For example, captains of industry is often used when describing the incredibly wealthy American entrepreneurs of the 1800s, such as J. P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller. In contrast the much more negative term robber barons, which implies ruthlessness and/or corruption, is used to describe these same people when criticizing their actions.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for captains of industry?

• magnates
• tycoons

What are some words that share a root or word element with captains of industry? 

• captains
• industry

What are some words that often get used in discussing captains of industry?

• wealth
• success
• elite
• business
• capitalism

How is captains of industry used in real life?

Captains of industry is a phrase used to describe incredibly wealthy or successful businesspeople. In particular, the phrase is often used to refer to owners or CEOs of huge, successful companies.

Why is the president meeting with captains of industry to ask what they need in order to get through this, but not meeting with average American workers to find out what they need? The paternalism and elitism that got us into this ditch is not what will get us out of it.

— Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) March 21, 2020

Elon Musk being lionized, right now. Seems he's either a robber baron or a captain of industry. #SpaceX #NASA #ISS

— Little (#MindTheGap) General (@Lancaster67) May 30, 2020

As we begin the 10-year countdown to 2030, @UNICEF calls on global leaders and captains of industry to put children and young people at the centre of their actions and investments. #wef20

— Henrietta H. Fore (@unicefchief) January 22, 2020

Try using captains of industry!

Which of the following is a synonym of captains of industry?

A. factory workers
B. employees
C. tycoons
D. students