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

In a pink, chandeliered room in the Gilded Age mansion of a dead steel magnate, the past and present melded in a manner that was both unsettling and affirming. —Emilia Petrarca, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

Adelson is the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and is a physician, philanthropist, and major GOP donor. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026

This year’s cohort included a luxury fashion and cosmetics mogul; an oil tycoon; a casino magnate; and the founder of lending giant Rocket Mortgage. —Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026

Through a series of maneuvers, Rue manages to trade Laurie’s coercive employ for that of Alamo Brown (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), a strip club magnate who quickly puts her to work managing one of his establishments. —Alison Herman, Variety, 8 Apr. 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)