honcho

noun

hon·​cho ˈhän-(ˌ)chō 

plural honchos

: boss, big shot

also : hotshot sense 1

Did you know?

A relic of the large U.S. presence in Japan in the years following World War II, the word honcho comes from the Japanese word hanchō meaning “leader of the squad, section, group.” We are uncertain of the exact route by which honcho found its way into American military argot in the mid-1950s, though it is known that the Japanese applied hanchō to British or Australian officers in charge of work parties in prisoner-of-war camps. By the 1960s, the word had become part of colloquial American jargon.

Synonyms of honcho

• heavyweight
• big
• heavy
• magnate
• bigwig

Examples of honcho in a Sentence

the office was all abuzz because some honchos from corporate headquarters were coming for a visit

he's definitely the head honcho in that company

Recent Examples on the Web

What ensued was a jazzy, loose homage to the album that transformed him from a hustler into a honcho. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 11 July 2026

Although Johnsen’s title is equivalent to a vice president, a source said the union honcho’s statement does not reflect the union’s current stance on the issue. — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 9 July 2026

His business acumen – such as successfully renegotiating a contract for Bob Dylan – caught the attention of CBS Records honcho Goddard Lieberson, and in 1967, Davis was appointed head of Columbia Records. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 June 2026

Created by Jason Odio and former Opium Group honcho Roman Jones, the venue at 500 Brickell Avenue had been a hangout for live music and house party vibes since 2016. — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese hanchō squad leader, from han squad + chō head, chief

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing honcho

• head honcho

Rhymes for honcho

• broncho
• concho
• poncho