nabob

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nabob

/ˈneɪbɑb/ US
/ˈneɪbɒb/ UK

Where it comes from

In colloquial usage in English since 1612, from a corruption of Hindustani नवाब (navāb) / نواب (navāb, “nawab”), perhaps via Portuguese nababo, from Classical Persian نَوَّاب (nawwāb), from Arabic نُوَّاب (nuwwāb), the honorific plural of نَائِب (nāʔib, “deputy”).

noun nabobs

historical An Indian ruler within the Mogul empire. They have drained the treasuries of Nabobs, who must fill them by oppressing the industry of their subjects.
Similar: nawab, overling, provost, ruler
broadly Someone of great wealth or importance. Mr. Glentworth had never quitted Europe, and his wealth was either good English landed property, or equally undeniable English consols; still he was a stranger, very rich, and suddenly come from abroad. Such a man was necessarily a nabob in Mr. Palmer's eyes. India had been the place for making larg
Similar: mogul, tycoon, magnate, overling, provost, ruler
broadly A person with a grandiose style or manner.

Translations

Every language

noun an Indian ruler

हिन्दी	नवाब navāb
Français	nabab

noun someone of great wealth

Français	nabab
Italiano	nababbo

noun someone with grandiose style or manner

Français	nabab

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Cite this

MLA

"nabob." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/nabob. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

nabob. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/nabob

Chicago

"nabob." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/nabob.

BibTeX

@misc{nabob_2026,
  title = {nabob},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/nabob},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}