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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

• 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

The shard of pottery in question was discovered by a passerby last December and caused a sensation as the first mention of sixth century B.C. empire builder to appear in Israel.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 3, 2023

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

From Washington Post • Jul. 25, 2022

But at that point, there was not even a whiff of the billion-dollar empire builder that Federer would soon become.

From New York Times • Aug. 25, 2021

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.