Word
rockefeller
Phoneticsrock·e·feller
/ˈɹɑkəˌfɛɫɝ/
Definition
n. a person who is extremely wealthy.
n. a person of vast wealth and influence, used as a synonym for a billionaire or tycoon.
Examples
“He spends money like he is a Rockefeller.”
“Even though the family lived modestly, the neighbors joked that the father must be a secret Rockefeller.”
Examples
simple
“He spends money like he is a Rockefeller.”
contextual
“Even though the family lived modestly, the neighbors joked that the father must be a secret Rockefeller.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'to be no Rockefeller' to mean one is not wealthy.
Teaching tip
This is a cultural reference to John D. Rockefeller; students should know it implies old-money status and massive industrial wealth.
Etymology
From the German place name Rockenfeld.
From John D. Rockefeller, the American industrialist who founded Standard Oil, also recognized for his 20th century philanthropy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/rockefeller