magnate

[mag-neyt, -nit]

noun

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.

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

Related formsmag·nate·ship, noun

Can be confusedmagnate magnet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for magnates

merchant, tycoon, capitalist, mogul, financier, aristocrat, noble, name, figure, VIP, plutocrat, notable, personage, chief, businessperson, lion, industrialist, bigwig, peer, leader

Examples from the Web for magnates

Contemporary Examples of magnates

Until recently, the Hirst Spot paintings had frequently supplied the background in newspaper photographs of magnates on the go.
My Art Basel Favorites
Anthony Haden-Guest
June 18, 2009

Historical Examples of magnates

When there were magnates in Addington, James had been a poor boy.
The Prisoner
Alice Brown
These included the Prime Minister, politicians, and magnates of commerce.
The White Lie
William Le Queux
His fall, however, benefited only the magnates of the realm.
The Swedish Revolution Under Gustavus Vasa
Paul Barron Watson
This filled up the cup of endurance of the magnates of the city.
German Culture Past and Present
Ernest Belfort Bax
The joy of the magnates was indescribable; they sank into each other's arms with tears of joy.
The Daughter of an Empress
Louise Muhlbach

British Dictionary definitions for magnates

magnate

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

Derived Formsmagnateship, noun

Word Origin for magnate

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

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

Word Origin and History for magnates

magnate

mid-15c., "great man, noble, man of wealth," from Late Latin magnates, plural of magnas "great person, nobleman," from Latin magnus "great, large, big" (of size), "abundant" (of quantity), "great, considerable" (of value), "strong, powerful" (of force); of persons, "elder, aged," also, figuratively, "great, mighty, grand, important," from PIE *mag-no-, from root *meg- "great" (cf. Sanskrit maha-, mahat- "great;" Greek megas, fem. megale "great, large;" Gothic mikils, Old English micel "great, big, many;" see mickle).