Definition

1. Noun:
   • A wealthy man, especially one who made his fortune in the Orient: Historically, a "nabob" referred to a European who returned from India or another Eastern country with a great fortune, often implying ostentatious wealth.
   • A governor in India during the Mogul empire: In historical contexts, a "nabob" was a provincial governor or deputy in the Mughal Empire in India.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Wealthy man):

  • The 18th-century "nabob" returned to England and built a vast estate with his Indian riches.
  • His lavish spending earned him the nickname "the nabob" among his more frugal peers.

• Noun (Historical governor):

  • The local nabob ruled the province under the authority of the Mughal emperor.
  • Historical accounts describe the power and influence wielded by these regional nabobs.

Advanced Usage

• "Nabob" as a term of social commentary: The word is often used critically or ironically to describe someone perceived as having acquired wealth in a dubious or colonial context, leading to a flashy, arrogant lifestyle.

  • Critics dismissed the new industrialists as vulgar nabobs, lacking the grace of old money.

• "Nabob" in modern figurative use: It can be used, though less commonly, to describe any very rich and powerful person, often with a hint of criticism for their perceived arrogance or influence.

  • The media tycoon was seen as a modern-day nabob, wielding immense political power.

Variants and Related Words

• Nabobess (n, archaic): A female nabob; the wife of a nabob.
• Nabobery / Nabobry (n, archaic): The state or conduct of a nabob; collectively, nabobs.

Synonyms

• Magnate: A wealthy and influential person, especially in business.
• Tycoon: A person of great wealth and power in a particular industry.
• Mogul: A powerful person, often in a specific field (originally referring to a Mongol ruler, later influenced by the similar sound to "Mughal").

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Nabob of...": Sometimes used humorously or critically in titles to denote someone who acts as an authority or holds great sway in a particular, often trivial, area.
  • He appointed himself the nabob of office coffee supplies, dictating the brew each day.

Noun

1. a wealthy man (especially one who made his fortune in the Orient)
2. a governor in India during the Mogul empire