robber baron

noun

1

: an American capitalist of the latter part of the 19th century who became wealthy through exploitation (as of natural resources, governmental influence, or low wage scales)

2

: a business owner or executive who acquires wealth through ethically questionable tactics

Examples of robber baron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Were robber barons exploiting workers and hoarding profits, or were wage-earners sharing in the bounty created by a growing economy? —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 15 Aug. 2025

But everyone's favorite robber baron came out on top with a few new enemies, one of whom arranges for him to be shot at the end of Episode 7. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025

A lot of his robber barons, towards the end of their careers, started worrying about their lives and how they would be remembered. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2025

Class distinctions are made plain by the difference in how wealthy robber baron families and their staff members live; multiple stories are being told at once, holding nuances across race, class, and gender under a single roof. —Evan Nicole Brown, Architectural Digest, 25 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for robber baron

• barren