robber baron
noun
History/Historical.
a noble who robbed travelers passing through his lands.
a ruthlessly powerful U.S. capitalist or industrialist of the late 19th century considered to have become wealthy by exploiting natural resources, corrupting legislators, or other unethical means.
Origin of robber baron
First recorded in 1875–80
Words nearby robber baron
robalo,
roband,
robbe-grillet,
robben island,
robber,
robber baron,
robber barons,
robber crab,
robber fly,
robber frog,
robber trench
Cultural definitions for robber barons
robber barons
A term applied to certain leading American businessmen of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including Cornelius Vanderbilt and John D. Rockefeller. The term suggests that they acquired their wealth by means more often foul than fair.