noun
baron
BA-ruhn
noun
1
A nobleman holding the lowest hereditary title in the British peerage.
"He was made a baron for his services to the arts."
2
A powerful figure in a particular industry or field.
"The newspaper baron controlled half the press in the country."
How to Use Baron
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a low-ranking nobleman, or (more commonly today) a powerful figure who dominates an industry.
Common pairings
drug baron
press baron
robber baron
oil baron
Word Forms
barons plural
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He was made a _____ for his services to the arts.
Etymology
From Old French baron, from Latin barō, likely from a Germanic root meaning "man" or "warrior" — the same root that may lie behind Old English beorn, meaning "warrior."