magnate

[mag-neyt, -nit]

noun

1. a person of great influence, importance, or standing in a particular enterprise, field of business, etc..

   a railroad magnate.

2. a person of eminence or distinction in any field.

   literary magnates.

3. a member of the former upper house in either the Polish or Hungarian parliament.

magnate

/ ˈmæɡneɪt, -nɪt /

noun

1. a person of power and rank in any sphere, esp in industry

2. history a great nobleman

3. (formerly) a member of the upper chamber in certain European parliaments, as in Hungary

Other Word Forms

• magnateship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnate¹

C15: back formation from earlier magnates from Late Latin: great men, plural of magnās, from Latin magnus great

Example Sentences

A former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty Monday to two federal crimes in connection with his side work for a cryptocurrency magnate who referred to himself as “the Godfather.”

From Los Angeles Times

The social media magnate announced in January that the company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, would implement a startling fact-checking shutdown in the United States, as well as rollbacks to its hate speech policy worldwide.

From Salon

Occupying the grey space between the enforcer and whatever Donald is up to is Tracy Letts’ Frank Martin, a local construction magnate buying up Black businesses at a clip that has tripped Lee’s internal alarm.

From Salon

The real estate and insurance magnate started collecting art in the early 1970s alongside his wife, Edythe.

From Los Angeles Times

Americans are well accustomed to ridiculously wealthy magnates assuming the same pose at their desks, or as Richard Branson did, on national TV.

From Salon

Related Words

• aristocrat 
• capitalist 
• financier 
• merchant 
• mogul 
• tycoon