empire builder

American  

noun

1. a person who plans or works to extend dominion or control, as over territory, political organizations, or business enterprises.

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empire-builder British  

noun

1. informal a person who seeks extra power for its own sake, esp by increasing the number of his subordinates or staff

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Other Word Forms

• empire-building noun

Etymology

Origin of empire builder

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

CEO and controlling shareholder Brian Roberts has been viewed as an empire builder, but that could be changing.

From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025

His notion of fast-casual mirrors that of Italian empire builder Fabio Trabocchi, another discerning Washington tastemaker.

From Washington Post • Jul. 25, 2022

While officials announced that the school would be renamed after Matobo — also called Matopo or Matopos by visitors — the president joked about the British empire builder.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 10, 2017

But given the direction of his career over the last decade, his image is now more like that of an empire builder.

From New York Times • Sep. 7, 2012

Here he met Rhodes and an association began which continued until the death of the empire builder.

From An African Adventure by Marcosson, Isaac Frederick