English Reference

Word

tycoon

Phoneticsty·coon

US/taɪˈkun/

UK/taɪkˈuːn/

Definition

n. a type of video game where you build and manage a business, like a zoo or a railway.

n. a subgenre of simulation games focused on the management of economic systems and infrastructure.

Examples

“The media tycoon owns several newspapers and television stations.”

“After building a global shipping empire from scratch, he became the country's most famous business tycoon.”

“The biography explores how the young entrepreneur transformed into a ruthless steel tycoon, eventually dictating the economic policies of the entire region through his industrial monopolies.”

Examples

simple

“The media tycoon owns several newspapers and television stations.”

contextual

“After building a global shipping empire from scratch, he became the country's most famous business tycoon.”

complex

“The biography explores how the young entrepreneur transformed into a ruthless steel tycoon, eventually dictating the economic policies of the entire region through his industrial monopolies.”

Real-World Examples

“The businessman's UK exit has been followed by other high-profile billionaires, including steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal and most recently hedge-fund boss Chris Rokos .”
BBC News · 18 Sept 2026
“Bertha's loving husband, George (Morgan Spector), is a tycoon whom we see buying off politicians and undercutting his rivals.”
BBC · 24 Feb 2022

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 大君(たいくん) (taikun, “great lord, prince”), a title for the shōgun. Related to taipan, from Cantonese 大班 (daai⁶ baan¹). The game sense was derived from the use of tycoon in titles of games in which one plays a tycoon (e.g., RollerCoaster Tycoon).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synonyms

management simbusiness sim

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated
Register
Informal

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/tycoon

English Reference