comprador

or com·pra·dore

[ kom-pruh-dawr ]

noun

1. (formerly in China) a local agent or factotum, as of a foreign business house.

comprador

/ ˌkɒmprəˈdɔː /

noun

1. (formerly in China and some other Asian countries) a native agent of a foreign enterprise

Word History and Origins

Origin of comprador¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Portuguese: literally, “buyer” from Latin comparātor, equivalent to comparā(re) “to furnish, provide, prepare” ( com-, prepare ) + -tor -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of comprador¹

C17: from Portuguese: buyer, from Late Latin comparātor, from Latin comparāre to purchase, from parāre to prepare

Example Sentences

La heredera de Fórmula Uno, Petra Ecclestone, y un comprador misterioso hicieron historia este mes con la venta récord de $119.75 millones de “The Manor” en Holmby Hills.

From Los Angeles Times

PJT Partners and Comprador Ltd joined as financial advisors as Brough unveiled a strategic review of Noble.

From Reuters

In fact US corporations are happy to exploit the Chinese Comunist Party as 'comprador' to keep Chinese labor cheap and silent.

From New York Times

México es el segundo mayor consumidor de manzanas de Washington, un comprador clave de aviones de Boeing y alberga un almacén de Amazon, así como 500 Starbucks y 40 tiendas de Costco.

From Seattle Times

Old colonial terms — such as comprador, which the Portuguese used in China — defined the subordinated bourgeoisie of the new nations.

From Salon