rainmaker

noun

rain·​mak·​er ˈrān-ˌmā-kər 

1

: a person who produces or attempts to produce rain by artificial means

2

: a person (such as a partner in a law firm) who brings in new business

also : a person whose influence can initiate progress or ensure success

rainmaking

ˈrān-ˌmā-kiŋ 

noun

Examples of rainmaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When the tree crashes out of their living room, their identity is finally revealed; Gogo was a renowned traditional healer and Janet was a rainmaker. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025

Matty is assigned to Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), a senior attorney and key rainmaker with a thirst for justice. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 15 July 2025

Regardless of development, the area of disturbed weather is expected to be a rainmaker in the region. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 12 July 2025

The phrase describes a pyramid structure where a handful of rainmakers at the top bring in clients and hand over the bulk of the work to a second tier of senior lawyers, who in turn oversee a larger pool of associates. —Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 26 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rainmaker

• blackacre
• caretaker
• clockmaker
• dressmaker
• filmmaker
• homemaker
• icebreaker
• lawmaker
• matchmaker
• pacemaker
• partaker
• peacemaker

Legal Definition

rainmaker

noun

rain·​mak·​er ˈrān-ˌmā-kər 

: a person (as a partner in a law firm) who brings in new business

rainmaking noun