zaibatsu

[ zahy-bah-tsoo ]

noun,plural zai·ba·tsu.

a large industrial or financial conglomerate of Japan.

Origin of zaibatsu

First recorded in 1935–40; from Japanese, equivalent to zai “wealth,” (from Middle Chinese dzoi, Mandarin Chinese cái ) + batsu “powerful clique” (from Middle Chinese bjot “powerful family,” Mandarin Chinese fá ); cf. chaebol

Words Nearby zaibatsu

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for zaibatsu

zaibatsu

/ (ˈzaɪbætˈsuː) /

noun

(functioning as singular or plural) the group or combine comprising a few wealthy families that controls industry, business, and finance in Japan

Origin of zaibatsu

from Japanese, from zai wealth, from Chinese ts'ai + batsu family, person of influence, from Chinese fa

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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