powerbroker

or pow·er bro·ker

[ pou-er-broh-ker ]

noun

1. a person who wields great political, governmental, or financial power. pow. power.

Word History and Origins

Origin of powerbroker¹

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65; power + broker

Example Sentences

There is no question of the queens’ transformation in historical chronicles from fierce powerbrokers to mere footnotes being accidental, the result of poor translations, sloppy transcriptions, or even a handful of scribes with personal axes to grind.

From Time

Bourdeaux is also a first-term representative who won her 2020 primary with only 53 percent of the vote, so she may not have had time yet to build up loyalty among local powerbrokers and voters.

From FiveThirtyEight

She represents an international powerbroker in a world increasingly skeptical of its role.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• activist