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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

Derived 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

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

While officials announced that the school would be renamed after Matobo — also called Matopo or Matopos by visitors — the president joked about the British empire builder.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2017

"Jane, the mind behind it all is an empire builder."

From Riders of the Purple Sage by Grey, Zane