magnate

[ mag-neyt, -nit ]
/ ˈmæg neɪt, -nɪt /

noun

a person of great influence, importance, or standing in a particular enterprise, field of business, etc.: a railroad magnate.
a person of eminence or distinction in any field: literary magnates.
a member of the former upper house in either the Polish or Hungarian parliament.

Origin of magnate

1400–50; back formation from Middle English magnates (plural) < Late Latin magnātēs leading people, equivalent to Latin magn(us) magn- + -ātēs, plural of -ās noun suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM magnate

mag·nate·ship, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH magnate

magnate magnet

Example sentences from the Web for magnates

British Dictionary definitions for magnates

magnate
/ (ˈmæɡneɪt, -nɪt) /

noun

a person of power and rank in any sphere, esp in industry
history a great nobleman
(formerly) a member of the upper chamber in certain European parliaments, as in Hungary

Derived forms of magnate

magnateship, noun

Word Origin for magnate

C15: back formation from earlier magnates from Late Latin: great men, plural of magnās, from Latin magnus great