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noun C2 Proficient

magnate

MAG-nayt

Magnate (noun) means a wealthy and powerful person in business or industry. Example: “The shipping magnate donated millions to the new hospital wing.”

noun
1
A wealthy and powerful person in business or industry.
"The shipping magnate donated millions to the new hospital wing."
"She built her fortune to become a media magnate by her thirties."

How to use magnate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA powerful, wealthy figure at the top of an industry, like a "captain of industry."

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "magnet" (the object that attracts metal) — they sound alike but are unrelated.

Easily confused with
magnet
Common pairings
business magnate media magnate oil magnate

Word forms

magnates plural

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Fill the gap

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The shipping _____ donated millions to the new hospital wing.

Etymology

From Late Latin magnātēs, plural of magnās, from magnus ("great").

Origin: Late Latin

power king baron tycoon mogul top executive big businessman business leader

Related words

Rhymes for magnate

See all rhymes for magnate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “magnate” mean?

The word “magnate” means a wealthy and powerful person in business or industry. In plain terms, a powerful, wealthy figure at the top of an industry, like a "captain of industry.".

How do you pronounce “magnate”?

“Magnate” is pronounced MAG-nayt (/ˈmæɡneɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “magnate” in a sentence?

Here is “magnate” used in a sentence: “The shipping magnate donated millions to the new hospital wing.”

What part of speech is “magnate”?

“Magnate” is a noun.

Where does the word “magnate” come from?

The word “magnate” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin magnātēs, plural of magnās, from magnus ("great").

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