NYT Dictionary

MOGUL

/ˈmoʊɡəl/
NounVerbMO-gulmo-gul · 2 syllablesGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2021, 2026

Meaning

A rich or powerful person; a magnate, nabob.

Etymology

Origin: Arabic

Figurative use of Moghul, which originally meant Mongol, or person of Mongolian descent. In this context, it refers to the Mughal Empire (Mughal being Persian or Arabic for "Mongol") of the Indian subcontinent that existed between 1526 and 1857: the early Mughal emperors claimed a heritage dating back to the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan. The modern meaning of the word is supposedly derived from the storied riches of the Mughal emperors, which, for example, produced the Taj Mahal.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

magnatetycooncaptain of industrymoghulbaronkingpoweravalanchebigwigblizzard

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.