mogul

1 of 2

noun (1)

mo·​gul ˈmō-(ˌ)gəl 

1

or less commonly moghul

ˈmō-(ˌ)gəl 

or mughal

ˈmü-(ˌ)gəl 

capitalized : an Indian Muslim of or descended from one of several conquering groups of Mongol, Turkish, and Persian origin

especially : great mogul

2

: a great personage : magnate

Hollywood moguls

industry moguls

mogul adjective

or less commonly moghul or mughal

often capitalized

mogul

2 of 2

noun (2)

mo·​gul ˈmō-gəl 

: a bump in a ski run

Did you know?

Started by Bābur, a descendant of Genghis Khan, the Muslim Mogul dynasty ruled much of India from the early 16th century to the mid-18th century. The Moguls (whose name is also spelled Moghul or Mughal) were known for their talented and powerful rulers, called "Great Moguls"; English speakers borrowed the word for other powerful persons, as in today's familiar references to "media moguls." Skiers might wonder if such power moguls have anything to do with the name they use for a bump in a ski run, but that hilly homonym is of Germanic origin and has nothing to do with Asian Mogul dynasties.

Examples of mogul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Earlier this year, in a Billboard cover story, Rocky opened up about his love of Rihanna, also a fashion mogul. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024

Another blow to Diddy's case:Combs denied bail yet again after 2 months in jail Despite multiple attempts at being released on bond, the rapper and music mogul has been jailed in the Special Housing Unit at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since his Sept. 17 arraignment on criminal charges. —Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024

The disgraced music mogul has fought to be released from jail pending trial three times, with his most recent attempt denied on Nov. 27. —Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News, 6 Dec. 2024

The Chinese billionaire real estate mogul Zhang Xin has made an undisclosed investment in arthouse distributor and global streamer Mubi through her New York film company Closer Media, Mubi said Friday. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Persian Mughul, from Mongolian mongγol Mongol

Noun (2)

German dialect; akin to German dialect (Viennese) mugl small hill

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1956, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

mogul

1 of 2 noun

mo·​gul ˈmō-(ˌ)gəl 

mō-ˈgəl

1

also moghul or mughal capitalized : an Indian Muslim of or descended from a family of Turkish and Mongolian origin that ruled India from the 16th to the 18th century

2

: an important person : magnate

mogul adjective often capitalized

mogul

2 of 2 noun

mo·​gul ˈmō-gəl 

: a bump on a ski slope

Etymology

Noun

Persian Mughul "mogul," from Mongolian mongγol "Mongol"

Noun

from German dialect