grandee: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “grandee” mean?
A person of high social or political rank, especially a Spanish or Portuguese nobleman of the highest rank.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person of high social or political rank, especially a Spanish or Portuguese nobleman of the highest rank.
A person of eminence or high standing in a particular field or group, often implying a position of authority or seniority.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. In British usage, historical contexts might be slightly more common.
Connotations
Both carry the same connotations of high rank and sometimes arrogance or entitlement. In metaphorical use, the ironic connotation is present in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects; considered a formal or literary word.
Grammar
How to Use “grandee” in a Sentence
[N] grandee (e.g., The grandee presided)grandee of [NP] (e.g., grandee of the banking world)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grandee” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- No standard adjectival form.
American English
- No standard adjectival form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for a very senior, established, and influential figure in an industry (e.g., a media grandee).
Academic
Used in historical or political science contexts, or metaphorically for senior academics in a field.
Everyday
Rare; if used, likely in news/political commentary.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grandee”
- Mispronouncing as /ˈɡrændi/ (two syllables). Correct is three syllables: gran-DEE.
- Using it as a direct synonym for any 'important person' without the nuance of seniority and establishment.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word, mostly found in political commentary or historical writing.
Yes, though historically a male title, in modern metaphorical use 'political grandee' or 'business grandee' can refer to a woman. The term 'grande dame' is also used for women.
A 'grandee' specifically implies long-established seniority and a high rank within a structured hierarchy (like a party or industry), while a 'VIP' is more general for any 'very important person' at an event.
The stress is on the second syllable: gran-DEE. It has three syllables.
A person of high social or political rank, especially a Spanish or Portuguese nobleman of the highest rank.
Grandee is usually formal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The grandee of the [field]”
- “A gathering of the grandees”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GRANdparent with royal 'Deeds' of honour. A GRANdee is an old, honoured figure.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL HIERARCHY IS PHYSICAL HEIGHT / NOBILITY IS GRANDEUR
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is the most accurate context for using the word 'grandee'?