plutocrat
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What is a plutocrat? A plutocrat is a wealthy person who rules or influences leaders in a plutocracy—a government in which wealthy people use their wealth to rule.In a plutocracy, the plutocrats may be the actual leaders, or they may influence or control the decisions that the leaders make. Plutocracy is never used as an official term for a form of government (like democracy is, for example)—it’s almost always applied as a criticism of such situations. It is frequently used as a way of pointing out inequality and the powerful influence of the wealthy in politics and government. Plutocrat is used in the same way.A country that is thought to have a plutocratic government can also be referred to as a plutocracy, as in Many outsiders saw the nation as an oppressive plutocracy. Plutocracy can also refer to the power that this kind of wealth can allow, as in His latest column explains his belief that the government has been corrupted by plutocracy. It can also refer to the wealthy class that is using wealth to rule, as in The businessman was accused of being a member of the plutocracy. The term plutocrat can refer to a person who’s a part of a plutocracy in any of the senses of the word.Example: Average citizens are angry because they believe billionaires have turned the government into a plutocracy to benefit themselves and their fellow plutocrats.
Etymology
Origin of plutocrat
First recorded in 1840–50; pluto(cracy) + -crat
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.
A new class of billionaire plutocrats, their wealth based less on manufacturing than on services, emerged.
From Los Angeles Times
Now, many of his erstwhile supporters among America’s plutocrats are screaming for mercy.
From Los Angeles Times
Who will stand up for the poor plutocrats who own Major League Baseball?
From Los Angeles Times
None of this is to suggest that the philanthropic donations of Griffin or any other American plutocrats aren’t sincere and heartfelt.
From Los Angeles Times
There is something desperately boring about despots and plutocrats.
From Washington Post
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.
