From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgrandeegran‧dee /ɡrænˈdiː/ noun [countable] 1 POLITICSa politician of the highest social class who has a lot of influence2 HIGH POSITION OR RANKa Spanish or Portuguese nobleman of the highest rank, in the past
Examples from the Corpus
grandee• Much of his downfall came from an over-zealous and extravagant interpretation of his role and duties as a landowner and grandee.• And corruption is condoned by powerful grandees in government and business.• The grandees of sport and theatre are distressed.• This is doubtful: the electorate, being composed of ordinary people, is less impressionable than Tory grandees.Origin grandee (1500-1600) Spanish grande, from Latin grandis; → GRAND1 