tycoon

Definition

A wealthy and powerful business person.

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 大君(たいくん) (taikun, “great lord, prince”), a title for the shōgun. Related to taipan, from Cantonese 大班 (daai⁶ baan¹). The game sense was derived from the use of tycoon in titles of games in which one plays a tycoon (e.g., RollerCoaster Tycoon).

Example Sentences

• "Chairman Yu is a tycoon who owns multiple hotel chains."
• "Dagobert had only one customer, an American who wore square, rimless glasses and a beige suit and looked like a Wall Street tycoon."
• "Zoo Tycoon is only one of several "tycoon" types of games, such as Railroad Tycoon, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Pizza Tycoon, and, without the "tycoon" title, but with all the fun and challenge, The Movies."