mandarinate

noun

man·​da·​rin·​ate ˈman-d(ə-)rə-ˌnāt How to pronounce mandarinate (audio)
1
: the office or status of a mandarin
2
: a body of mandarins
3
: rule by mandarins

Examples of mandarinate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The silver currency provided stability, a quality much prized by the mandarinate. Edward Chancellor, WSJ, 10 Mar. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mandarinate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from French mandarinat, from mandarin mandarin, from Portuguese mandarim

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mandarinate was in 1728

Dictionary Entries Near mandarinate

Cite this Entry

“Mandarinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandarinate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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