mandarin
noun
(in the Chinese Empire) a member of any of the nine ranks of public officials, each distinguished by a particular kind of button worn on the cap.
mandarins
-
pluralof mandarin.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
But then, it’s hard not to smile at the playfully elegant Bosc pears, puckered mandarins and green-and-purple asparagus taper candles which range in price from $12 to $40.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
According to an AFP journalist, mandarins in Ashgabat cost $1.90, apples more than $2 and a pack of cigarettes has risen to $3 -- pretty much double what they were.
From Barron's ● Mar. 10, 2026
Did someone forget to tell the mandarins investigating X?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 7, 2025
Yet as costs have surged, the taste is changing too, with certain manufacturers substituting oranges for mandarins to cut costs.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2025
"Who is thy servant, O noble Nicholas, that he should doubt, when learned mandarins believe?" said Chow.
From The War Tiger Or, Adventures and Wonderful Fortunes of the Young Sea Chief and His Lad Chow: A Tale of the Conquest of China by William Dalton
