zaibatsu

American  

[zahy-bah-tsoo] / ˈzaɪ bɑˈtsu /

noun

• zaibatsu
  plural

1. a large industrial or financial conglomerate of Japan.

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zaibatsu British  

/ ˈzaɪbætˈsuː /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• zaibatsu
  plural

Etymology

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 ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zaibatsu

Mitsubishi became one of Japan’s first zaibatsu, family-owned business conglomerates with financial and industrial branches influential in Japanese politics.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022

And that’s actually really similar to the Japanese zaibatsu model from the prewar times, which I find really interesting.

From The Verge ● Apr. 10, 2020

He learned to play golf in Philadelphia in 1926 and on his return home became a popular member of foursomes with big zaibatsu business men who were painstakingly learning the Western game.

From Time Magazine Archive

Although Japan's multibillion-dollar zaibatsu will hardly miss the money, they have no tradition of corporate giving and get no tax exemption for it.

From Time Magazine Archive

But zaibatsu, like many another Japanese tradition, proved tougher than reform.

From Time Magazine Archive