millionaire

American  

[mil-yuh-nair] / ˌmɪl yəˈnɛər /

Or millionnaire

noun

1. a person whose wealth amounts to a million or more in some unit of currency, as dollars.

2. any very rich person.

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millionaire British  

/ ˌmɪljəˈnɛə /

noun

1. a person whose assets are worth at least a million of the standard monetary units of his country

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Other Word Forms

• millionairedom noun
• millionairess noun
• nonmillionaire noun

Etymology

Origin of millionaire

1820–30; < French millionnaire, equivalent to million million + -aire -ary

Compare meaning

How does millionaire compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• multimillionaire vs. millionaire

Example Sentences

Business flourished—farmers became financiers, millers became millionaires.

From Literature

Earlier this month millionaire businessman and rock drummer Paul McManus confirmed he would fund the action after Moira agreed to transfer the legal rights of the case.

From BBC

The final in Milan was contested by NHL professionals, millionaires all.

From The Wall Street Journal

"If I had a pound for every time I said 'tuck your shirt in', I wouldn't need to teach, I'd be a millionaire," laments one Derbyshire secondary school teacher.

From BBC

For over 140 years, restaurateurs have become millionaires capitalizing on the insatiable American appetite for nearly any foodstuff from south of the border.

From Los Angeles Times