baron

noun

bar·​on ˈber-ən How to pronounce baron (audio)
ˈba-rən
Synonyms of baron
1
a
: one of a class of tenants holding his rights and title by military or other honorable service directly from a feudal superior (such as a king)
b
: a lord of the realm : noble, peer
2
a
: a member of the lowest grade of the peerage in Great Britain
b
: a nobleman on the continent of Europe of varying rank
c
: a member of the lowest order of nobility in Japan
3
: a joint of meat consisting of two sirloins or loins and legs not cut apart at the backbone
a baron of beef
4
: a man who possesses great power or influence in some field of activity
a cattle baron

Synonyms of baron

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Examples of baron in a Sentence

a media baron who owns newspapers, television and radio stations, and even several cable networks
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As the former residence of press baron Lord Beaverbrook, the English country house hotel—which recently provided the backdrop for Arsenal and England hero Declan Rice’s British Vogue shoot—has a pretty storied past. — Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026 Climate Defiance, the left-wing group whose portfolio includes disrupting both oil barons and Democrats, showed up to film skits criticizing her, with a comedian portraying her. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Spector plays railroad baron George Russell in HBO’s The Gilded Age; the show’s fourth season is slated to premiere in the fall. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 27 July 2026 The writer and former white supremacist Richard Hanania was once the toast of MAGA-curious tech barons and reactionary intellectuals. — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for baron

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German baro freeman

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of baron was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing baron

Rhymes for baron

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Browse Nearby Words

barometry
baron
baronage
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Cite this Entry

“Baron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baron. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

baron

noun
bar·​on ˈbar-ən How to pronounce baron (audio)
1
: a member of the lowest rank of the British nobility
2
: a person of great power or influence
a cattle baron

More from Merriam-Webster on baron

Nglish: Translation of baron for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about baron

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