magnate
Americannoun
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a person of great influence, importance, or standing in a particular enterprise, field of business, etc..
a railroad magnate.
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a person of eminence or distinction in any field.
literary magnates.
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a member of the former upper house in either the Polish or Hungarian parliament.
noun
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a person of power and rank in any sphere, esp in industry
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history a great nobleman
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(formerly) a member of the upper chamber in certain European parliaments, as in Hungary
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
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Hidden Figures
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A Room of One's Own
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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.
Browns Sold to Tennessee Truck-Stop Magnate Here's one to make Cleveland fans shake their heads: A partial owner of the hated Pittsburgh Steelers is buying the Browns.
From New York Times • Aug. 3, 2012
Atlanta Yachtsman and Cable-TV Magnate Ted Turner has often sailed daringly close to the wind, sometimes taking a soaking.
From Time Magazine Archive
Mail-Order Magnate Eva Jeanbart Lorenzotti Claim to fame: Not so long ago, catalogs garnered about as much respect in the luxury world as layaway plans.
From Time Magazine Archive
Declared Diamond Magnate Harry Oppenheimer, an influential critic of the Afrikaner regime: "I've got more hope for the future of South Africa than I've had for many, many years."
From Time Magazine Archive
Magnate was a cool man, and held his dignity in a pleasing manner.
From Life in a Thousand Worlds by Harris, W. S. (William Shuler)
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.
