Meanings
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1
noun
a nobleman of the highest rank in Spain or Portugal
The Spanish grandee held estates in several provinces and enjoyed privileges at court.
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2
noun
an important, wealthy, or influential person in a particular sphere
The proposal won support from several grandees of the banking world.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish grande ('great person, high-ranking noble'), from Latin grandis ('great, large'). English later extended the title to any powerful or eminent person.