baron

noun

bar·​on ˈber-ən 

ˈba-rən

1

a

: one of a class of tenants holding his rights and title by military or other honorable service directly from a feudal superior (such as a king)

b

: a lord of the realm : noble, peer

2

a

: a member of the lowest grade of the peerage in Great Britain

b

: a nobleman on the continent of Europe of varying rank

c

: a member of the lowest order of nobility in Japan

3

: a joint of meat consisting of two sirloins or loins and legs not cut apart at the backbone

a baron of beef

4

: a man who possesses great power or influence in some field of activity

a cattle baron

Synonyms of baron

• magnate
• tycoon
• king

Examples of baron in a Sentence

a media baron who owns newspapers, television and radio stations, and even several cable networks

Recent Examples on the Web

That same shot also features Digger’s ailing pet cat, who is wearing a collar with a pendant that matches the oil baron’s bolo tie…as well as a cloudy blue eye that appears to be a strikingly similar hue. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026

By the 1910s, the Standard Oil baron had become the country’s first billionaire. — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Action sweeps from America’s railroad barons to Vienna’s stock market crash. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 July 2026

This was perhaps the greatest bifurcation of the labor force seen since the days of land barons. — Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German baro freeman

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing baron

• robber baron

Rhymes for baron

• barren

Kids Definition

baron

noun

bar·​on ˈbar-ən 

1

: a member of the lowest rank of the British nobility

2

: a person of great power or influence

a cattle baron