magnate

noun

mag·​nate ˈmag-ˌnāt 

-nət

: a person of rank, power, influence, or distinction often in a specified area

a railroad magnate

Synonyms of magnate

• tycoon
• baron
• king

Examples of magnate in a Sentence

a studio magnate who had the biggest stars in Hollywood at his beck and call

Recent Examples on the Web

Sargeant, a Florida oil magnate, had come under fire from Venezuelan opposition figures and US allies for allegedly propping up Maduro. — Fabiola Zerpa, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026

Ryan Reynolds is already something of a modern-day Renaissance man, being a highly successful actor, billionaire business mogul, and global soccer magnate. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 17 Aug. 2026

The small and intimate wedding, which took place on Onassis’s private island, came as quite a surprise to the world, as the Greek shipping magnate had previously dated her sister, Lee Radziwell. — Freya Drohan, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026

The investor group is led by Amit Bhatia, who is married to a daughter of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, and has taken a stake of more than 30% in the 20-time English champion, according to Sky News. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English magnates, plural, from Late Latin, from Latin magnus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for magnate

• magnet
• electromagnet
• ferromagnet

Kids Definition

magnate

noun

mag·​nate ˈmag-ˌnāt 

-nət

: a person of rank, power, or influence (as in an industry)