rainmaker

[ reyn-mey-ker ]
/ ˈreɪnˌmeɪ kər /

noun

(among American Indians) a medicine man who by various rituals and incantations seeks to cause rain.
a person who induces rainfall by using various scientific techniques, as the seeding of clouds with silver iodide crystals from an airplane.
Slang. an executive or lawyer with exceptional ability to attract clients, use political connections, increase profits, etc.: The president has several rainmakers among his advisers.

Origin of rainmaker

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75; rain + maker

OTHER WORDS FROM rainmaker

rain·mak·ing, noun

Example sentences from the Web for rainmaker

British Dictionary definitions for rainmaker

rainmaker
/ (ˈreɪnˌmeɪkə) /

noun

(among Native Americans) a professional practitioner of ritual incantations or other actions intended to cause rain to fall
informal, mainly US an influential employee who creates a great deal of business or revenue for his or her firm

Derived forms of rainmaker

rainmaking, noun