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grandee

American  
[gran-dee] / grænˈdi /

noun

  1. a man of high social position or eminence, especially a Spanish or Portuguese nobleman.


grandee British  
/ ɡrænˈdiː /

noun

  1. a Spanish or Portuguese prince or nobleman of the highest rank

  2. a man of great rank or eminence

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of grandee

1590–1600; < Spanish, Portuguese grande, with ending assimilated to -ee

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.

Even before the revelations about the extent of Labour grandee Peter Mandelson’s ties to Epstein raised questions about Starmer’s judgment, investors were primed for a challenge to his leadership.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Starmer has apologized for hiring the Labour Party grandee, and Mandelson has quit the House of Lords—the British Parliament’s upper chamber—amid a police investigation into whether he shared market-sensitive information with the financier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Then we’ll hear from City grandee Allan Leighton, who became chairman of Royal Mail in 2002.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2024

Their company logo — Picasso’s stylized silhouette of Cervantes’ delusional Spanish grandee — seemed to pop up every few blocks, all over town.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2024

He dressed impeccably and had the manners of a grandee.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

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