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

Commissioned in 2010 by Norwegian oil and gas magnate Sigurd Aase, the Draken is built with overlapping oak planks based in part on ship descriptions in historical Viking skaldic poems. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2026

The investment comes as billionaires like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and American property magnate Stanley Kroenke have poured money into European soccer clubs as another way to put their fortunes to work. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Nov. 2026

The jewels date back to Sofía’s 1962 wedding to the future King Juan Carlos, with the wider suite gifted by Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos and the matching earrings reportedly presented by her mother, Queen Frederica of Greece. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026

The tour takes guests through the Gilded Age mansion, built in 1904 for furniture magnate Amos Rhodes. — Madeline Montgomery, CBS News, 28 Oct. 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)