plutocrat

American  

[ploo-tuh-krat] / ˈplu təˌkræt /

noun

1. a member of a plutocracy.

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plutocrat British  

/ ˈpluːtəˌkræt /

noun

1. a member of a plutocracy

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Usage

What is a plutocrat? A plutocrat is a wealthy person who rules or influences leaders in a plutocracy—a government in which wealthy people use their wealth to rule. In a plutocracy, the plutocrats may be the actual leaders, or they may influence or control the decisions that the leaders make. Plutocracy is never used as an official term for a form of government (like democracy is, for example)—it’s almost always applied as a criticism of such situations. It is frequently used as a way of pointing out inequality and the powerful influence of the wealthy in politics and government. Plutocrat is used in the same way. A country that is thought to have a plutocratic government can also be referred to as a plutocracy, as in Many outsiders saw the nation as an oppressive plutocracy. Plutocracy can also refer to the power that this kind of wealth can allow, as in His latest column explains his belief that the government has been corrupted by plutocracy. It can also refer to the wealthy class that is using wealth to rule, as in The businessman was accused of being a member of the plutocracy. The term plutocrat can refer to a person who’s a part of a plutocracy in any of the senses of the word. Example: Average citizens are angry because they believe billionaires have turned the government into a plutocracy to benefit themselves and their fellow plutocrats.

Etymology

Origin of plutocrat

First recorded in 1840–50; pluto(cracy) + -crat

Explanation

A plutocrat is someone who uses their wealth to buy political power. It’s not a compliment, yet plutocrats rule the world. Just ask them. The terms plutocrat and plutocracy are almost always used in a critical or derogatory way. Plutocrats are a small, rich group of people within a larger society that rule or exert control (sometimes indirectly or secretly) using their money. Wealthy groups and people can do this by making large donations to political campaigns, with the expectation of favors in return. The Greek root of plutocrat is ploutos, "wealth."

Example Sentences

Is the owner an absentee plutocrat who texts “Sounds good” from Davos or a wannabe Rockne who played six or seven downs at Choate?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

Among the international plutocrat class, one trend is unmissable: Every CEO talks like Elon Musk now.

From Slate • Sep. 14, 2023

As recently as Halloween, this boy plutocrat with the shaggy bro-’fro was a freshly minted paragon of greed in the service of good.

From Washington Post • Dec. 16, 2022

Astros owner Jim Crane came across as an out-of-touch plutocrat used to people telling him they agree with whatever nonsense comes out of his mouth.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2022

Despite the liver spots and the purplish swags under his eyes, he at last appeared the cruelly handsome plutocrat, though somewhat reduced.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan