Robber baron Meaning in English
expression
Definición
A "robber baron" is a powerful person, especially a business leader, who gains great wealth by using unfair or unethical methods. It usually refers to certain 19th-century American industrialists.
Uso & Matices
It's often historical, linked to American industrialists like Rockefeller or Carnegie, but is sometimes used nowadays to criticize rich people who exploit others. Mainly negative; rarely used for modern business leaders unless criticizing their ethics. Common collocation: "Gilded Age robber barons".
Oraciones de Ejemplo
John D. Rockefeller was often called a robber baron.
basic
Many people believe that robber barons hurt ordinary workers.
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The term robber baron comes from the history of American industry.
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Some people call modern tech billionaires the new robber barons.
natural
"That guy acts like a total robber baron—he doesn't care who he steps on to get rich," she said.
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In school, we learned about the famous robber barons who shaped the American economy.
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