oligarch
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for oligarch, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A very rich businessman who wields political influence, especially one of those who acquired vast state assets in Russia and other post-Soviet countries after 1991.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A very rich businessman who wields political influence, especially one of those who acquired vast state assets in Russia and other post-Soviet countries after 1991.
“Sanctions froze the yachts of several Russian oligarchs.”
How to use oligarch
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Always pejorative. Nobody applies it to themselves.
Etymology
From Greek oligarkhes, from oligoi "few" and arkhein "to rule".
Full origin of oligarch →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an oligarch and a billionaire?
A billionaire is defined purely by wealth. An oligarch is defined by the conversion of that wealth into political power, usually with the state's help — the fortune and the influence sustain each other.
Why are Russian businessmen called oligarchs?
The label stuck to the handful of men who took ownership of huge former state enterprises during the privatisations of the 1990s and then exercised open influence over the government. The word has since been extended to comparable figures in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and beyond.
Can an American be an oligarch?
The word is increasingly used that way, in arguments that concentrated wealth translates directly into political power in the United States. It remains a contested and polemical usage rather than a neutral description.