Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who attempts to cause rain to fall, especially through ritual or ceremony: Historically, this refers to a figure, often in Indigenous American cultures, believed to have the power to invoke rain.
   • A highly successful executive or professional who generates a large amount of business or revenue for a company: In modern business contexts, a "rainmaker" is someone with an exceptional ability to attract clients, secure deals, and drive significant income.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Historical/Cultural):

  • The tribe consulted the rainmaker during the prolonged drought.
  • Stories were told of a powerful rainmaker who could summon storms.

• Noun (Modern Business):

  • The law firm's newest partner is a true rainmaker, bringing in millions in new contracts.
  • Every company wants to hire a rainmaker for their sales team.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a rainmaker": to have the established role or reputation of someone who generates substantial business.

  • After securing the major account, she was finally recognized as a rainmaker in the industry.

• "rainmaking ability": the skill or talent for generating revenue or business opportunities.

  • His rainmaking ability is the key to the department's success.

Variants and Related Words

• Rainmaking (n): The action or process of generating business, or the historical practice of attempting to produce rain.
  • The seminar focused on the art of business rainmaking.

Synonyms

• Business generator: A person who creates new business.
• Top producer: A leading performer in sales or revenue generation.
• Medicine man / Shaman: A spiritual healer or leader (for the historical sense).

Related Phrases

• To bring in the business: To attract new clients or customers (describes the action of a rainmaker).
  • Her primary role is to bring in the business for the consultancy.

Related Idioms

• To make it rain: (Slang, derived from the concept) To spend money lavishly or to generate a lot of cash. Note: This is a modern slang idiom related to, but distinct from, the term "rainmaker."
  • After closing the big deal, he went out to make it rain at the club.

Noun

1. American Indian medicine man who attempt to make it rain
2. executive who is very successful in bringing in business to his company or firm