grandee

[ gran-dee ]

noun

1. a man of high social position or eminence, especially a Spanish or Portuguese nobleman.

grandee

/ ɡrænˈdiː /

noun

1. a Spanish or Portuguese prince or nobleman of the highest rank
2. a man of great rank or eminence

Derived Forms

• granˈdeeship, noun

Other Words From

• gran·deeship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of grandee¹

1590–1600; < Spanish, Portuguese grande, with ending assimilated to -ee

Word History and Origins

Origin of grandee¹

C16: from Spanish grande

Example Sentences

Better Together grandees toasted their success at the Marriot Hotel in Glasgow, while Yes chiefs attended what Nicola Sturgeon described as a "wake" in another part of town.

From BBC

American conservatives’ enthusiasm for foreign-based authoritarianism, and their readiness to cooperate with grandees like Orbán or Vladimir Putin, is now well established, a phenomenon I witnessed in its embryonic stage as early as 2016.

From Salon

But Harris acted quickly to show her strength once Biden endorsed her, making a rapid round of calls to consolidate support from party grandees.

From Los Angeles Times

So many elected representatives, senators and party grandees are backing her that she may be unassailable.

From BBC

This week he was expected to attend the annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, a glittering confab in the south of France where advertisers and media grandees mingle over glasses of rosé.

From New York Times

Related Words

• aristocrat
• blue blood
• emperor
• patrician