baron

Meaning

1. The male ruler of a barony.
2. A male member of the lowest rank of English nobility (the equivalent rank in Scotland is lord).
3. A person of great power in society, especially in business and politics.
4. (slang) A prisoner who gains power and influence by lending or selling goods such as tobacco.
5. A baron of beef, a cut made up of a double sirloin.
6. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Euthalia.
7. (obsolete) A husband.

Synonyms

magnate

tycoon

mogul

big businessman

top executive

count

🔢

king

👑

power

peer

ruler

business leader

lord

thegn

fat cat

knight

master

nob

noble

nobleman

thane

Sir

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbæɹən/

Etymology

From Middle English baroun, from Old French baron, from Latin barōnem, from Proto-West Germanic *barō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear”). Cognate with Old High German baro (“human being, man, freeman”), Old English bora (“a man who bears responsibility, one who is in charge, a ruler”), and perhaps to Old English beorn (“man, warrior”). Used in early Germanic law in the sense of "man, human being".
A Celtic origin has also been suggested; see the quote under sense 3 of Latin barō. However, the OED takes the hypothetical Proto-Celtic *bar- (“hero”) to be a figment.