definitions

robber baron

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR robber baron ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

History/Historical. a noble who robbed travelers passing through his lands.
a ruthlessly powerful U.S. capitalist or industrialist of the late 19th century considered to have become wealthy by exploiting natural resources, corrupting legislators, or other unethical means.

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Nearby words

roband, robbe-grillet, robbe-grillet, alain, robben island, robber, robber baron, robber barons, robber crab, robber fly, robber frog, robber trench

Origin of robber baron

First recorded in 1875–80
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019