magnate

noun

mag·​nate ˈmag-ˌnāt How to pronounce magnate (audio)
-nət
Synonyms of magnate
: a person of rank, power, influence, or distinction often in a specified area
a railroad magnate

Synonyms of magnate

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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
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.
The steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, then one of the richest men in America, made the same argument in an 1889 essay for the North American Review remembered as the Gospel of Wealth. — Gautam Mukunda, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026 Whether or not that prediction comes to fruition, the Destrier will certainly be a magnate for hypercar cognoscenti attending both the Quail, a Motorsport’s Gathering and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance next week. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 6 Aug. 2026 It’s named after newspaper magnate and former resident Lord Beaverbrook. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026 Built on a 311 acre plot of land, the new institution will showcase the former shipping magnate’s personal art collection, which is estimated to contain around 3,000 works by South American and international artists. — News Desk, Artforum, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for magnate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English magnates, plural, from Late Latin, from Latin magnus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of magnate was in the 15th century

Rhymes for magnate

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Browse Nearby Words

magnanimous
magnate
magnateship
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Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

magnate

noun
mag·​nate ˈmag-ˌnāt How to pronounce magnate (audio)
-nət
: a person of rank, power, or influence (as in an industry)

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