Tycoon
/taɪˈkuːn/
nounB2
Definition
A tycoon is someone who has a lot of money and power because they own or run big businesses. They often influence markets or industries and are known for their success in business.
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See It in Action
A very rich and powerful business person
- •The oil tycoon invested in new energy projects.
- •She became a real estate tycoon after buying many properties.
- •The tech tycoon is known for creating popular software.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "tycoon" like "boss," but much bigger and richer—someone who controls many businesses, not just a small team.
- ✓Picture a tall building with many offices owned by one person who makes big decisions.
- ✓It's the feeling of respect and sometimes envy when you think of someone very successful in business.
- ✓Sounds like "tie-COON" → imagine a person wearing a fancy tie and a crown, showing both business and power.
- ✓Think of famous movie characters or real people who own big companies, like a king of business.
- ✓NOT like "manager" (who leads a team), a tycoon owns or controls entire companies.
- ✓NOT like "worker" (who does tasks), a tycoon makes big decisions and controls money.
- ✓NOT like "celebrity" (famous for entertainment), a tycoon is famous for business success.
Try Other Words
- •Magnate: a rich and powerful person in business (Use when emphasizing wealth and power in a specific industry)
- •Businessman/businesswoman: a person who works in business (Use for general business people, not necessarily very rich or powerful)
- •Entrepreneur: someone who starts new businesses (Use when focusing on starting and creating businesses rather than owning big companies)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (none obvious in modern English; borrowed whole)
- •Etymology: From Japanese "taikun" meaning "great lord" or "big prince," first used in English in the 19th century to describe powerful leaders or businessmen
- •Historical development: Originally a title for powerful leaders in Japan, later adopted in English to describe wealthy business leaders
- •Modern usage: Used to describe very rich and powerful people who own or control large businesses or industries
Reflect & Connect
•How does being a tycoon affect a person's responsibilities beyond just making money?
•Can a tycoon use their power to help society, or is their role mostly focused on business success?
Fill in the blanks
1.A tycoon usually has ___ control over many companies, not just one small business.
2.When someone becomes a tycoon, it means they have gained ___ and influence in their industry.
3.Unlike a regular businessman, a tycoon often owns ___ parts of the market.
4.The term tycoon is often used to describe people who have ___ wealth.
5.A tycoon might invest money in new projects to ___ their business empire.
6.Tycoons are different from managers because they make ___ decisions about business direction.
7.When a person is called a tycoon, we can infer they have ___ success and power in business.