tycoon (English)

Where does "tycoon" come from?

The word tycoon originates from the Japanese title 'taikun,' which translates to 'great lord' or 'prince' and was used as an honorific for the shōgun. It entered the English language as a term for a powerful business magnate in the 19th century. In modern times, the word's meaning expanded further through popular video game titles, eventually forming a new genre of simulation games focused on building wealth and infrastructure.

Full etymology tree

• tycoon (English), 'A wealthy and powerful business person.'
  • borrowed 大君 (taikun) (Japanese), 'the emperor, His Majesty'
    • compound 大 (ō) (Old Japanese)
    • compound 君 (kimi) (Old Japanese)

Updated July 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris