magnateEnglishOxford New American Dictionarymagnate /ˈmaɡˌnāt, , ˈmæɡˌneɪt , ˈmaɡnət, ˈmæɡnət / ▸ noun a wealthy and influential person, especially in business: a media magnate. – ORIGIN late Middle English : from late Latin magnas, magnat- ‘great man’, from Latin magnus ‘great’.