tycoon

noun

ty·​coon tī-ˈkün How to pronounce tycoon (audio)
Synonyms of tycoon
1
a
: a businessperson of exceptional wealth, power, and influence : magnate
b
: a top leader (as in politics)
2
: shogun

Synonyms of tycoon

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Examples of tycoon in a Sentence

an oil tycoon who's widely considered the most powerful man in the county
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over those decades, tycoons have leveraged their fortunes to shape the state with their railroads, mines, newspapers, oil businesses and ranching and agriculture. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector will be back as the ambitious social climber Bertha Russell and her railroad tycoon husband George Russell, though their relationship hit some rough waters in Season 3. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Oct. 2026 Its mix of escapist fantasy and emotional substance has never felt more dialed in, nor the political relevance of staggering income inequality and meddlesome tycoons more pronounced. — Alison Herman, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026 Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani, whose plans to launch satellite communications and dominance over the Indian telecom market have drawn the ire of Elon Musk last week, has a more pressing worry. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tycoon

Word History

Etymology

Japanese taikun

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of tycoon was in 1857

Rhymes for tycoon

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Browse Nearby Words

Tychy
tycoon
tydden
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Cite this Entry

“Tycoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tycoon. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tycoon

noun
ty·​coon tī-ˈkün How to pronounce tycoon (audio)
: a very wealthy and powerful business person
Etymology

Japanese taikun "shogun"

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