empire builder

a person who plans or works to extend dominion or control, as over territory, political organizations, or business enterprises.

Origin of empire builder

First recorded in 1890–95

He was not destined to become an Empire-builder in the Colonies.

Oliver Goldsmith |E. S. Lang Buckland
He named a Canadian statesman and empire-builder whose integrity was beyond all suspicion.

Swirling Waters |Max Rittenberg
The ghost of the great Empire-builder rises before the astonished spectators, enquiring what trouble has overtaken his land.

Authors of Greece |T. W. Lumb
He was no common man, but an empire-builder in the brave days of old.

William Black |John Maclean

But she ought to go to a home and be trained to marry an empire-builder.

Happy Pollyooly |Edgar Jepson

empire-builder

informal a person who seeks extra power for its own sake, esp by increasing the number of his subordinates or staff

empire-building, noun, adjective