magnate
Americannoun
-
a person of great influence, importance, or standing in a particular enterprise, field of business, etc..
a railroad magnate.
-
a person of eminence or distinction in any field.
literary magnates.
-
a member of the former upper house in either the Polish or Hungarian parliament.
noun
-
a person of power and rank in any sphere, esp in industry
-
history a great nobleman
-
(formerly) a member of the upper chamber in certain European parliaments, as in Hungary
Other Word Forms
- magnateship noun
Etymology
Origin of magnate
1400–50; back formation from Middle English magnates (plural) < Late Latin magnātēs leading people, equivalent to Latin magn ( us ) magn- + -ātēs, plural of -ās noun suffix
Explanation
If you’re a hugely successful businessperson, particularly if you’ve cornered the market in a specific area, you’re a magnate. Magnates are often larger-than-life characters, like that oil tycoon who wears a cowboy hat with his tuxedo. Historically, a magnate was a man of noble birth (from the Latin magnus, meaning "a nobleman," or at least someone distinguished by his achievements. In the twentieth century, the stock of a magnate has rather fallen. If you’re vulgar and loud-spoken as well as rich, you’re probably a magnate. Thanks to the legendary movie producer Samuel Goldwyn, all film studio heads are now "studio magnates."
Vocabulary lists containing magnate
That's Great!: Magn
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Room of One's Own
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Hidden Figures
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The Victorian-era town with dramatic cliffs is on the windswept northeast coast and was developed as a resort by a Quaker mining and railroad magnate in 1861.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
It has become a magnate not only for tourists, but also immigrants moving to destinations such as Medellín and Bogotá from the likes of the US, Canada and the UK.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
Hotel magnate Thomas Pritzker once replied to him saying “Please excuse my lack of typos.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
"That's been sort of a side effect of the modern world," said Wright, a former fracking magnate.
From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026
The second was a donation of £250,000 from the automobile magnate Lord Austin, which ended the Cavendish’s poverty-row ways for good.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
