trustbuster

[ truhst-buhs-ter ]

noun

1. a federal official who seeks to dissolve business trusts, especially through vigorous application of antitrust regulations.

trustbuster

/ ˈtrʌstˌbʌstə /

noun

1. informal.
   a person who seeks the dissolution of corporate trusts, esp a federal official who prosecutes trusts under the antitrust laws

Derived Forms

• ˈtrustˌbusting, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trustbuster¹

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; trust + buster

Example Sentences

When President Biden took office, he picked trustbusters to lead key agencies amid bipartisan calls to curtail the largest internet firms’ power over the digital economy.

From Washington Post

Yet the trustbusters of yesteryear didn’t just say that “companies are too big.”

From Washington Post

But it also shows the challenge modern trustbusters will face in persuading courts to embrace their pre-emptive strike policy.

From New York Times

Yet Chinese officials have moved against tech companies with a speed and ferocity that might unsettle even the most ardent Western trustbusters.

From New York Times

But it has also clarified the path forward for today’s trustbusters, with District Judge James E. Boasberg’s dismissive ruling handing them both a road map and a fresh tank of fuel.

From Washington Post