Mogul

Photo of author

Grammarist

The word mogul has two very different meanings, which can be attributed to two different origins of the term. We will examine the definitions of the word mogul, where the word came from and some examples of its use in sentences.

Most often, the word mogul is used to mean a powerful and important businessman, usually within the film, television or news industries. This meaning of mogul is derived from the Indian emporers who ruled during the sixteenth through nineteenth century. The Mogols were a Muslim dynasty of Mongol origin, descended from the Turkish conqueror and emporer Tamerlane and claiming lineage leading back to Genghis Khan. Their kingdom was known as the Mughal Empire. The fifth Mogol, Shah Jahan, built the Taj Mahal at Agra, as well as the Lahore Fort and the Red Fort.

Mogul may also be used to mean a bump or mound of packed snow on a ski course, created by turning downhill skiers. The term entered the English language in the 1960s, most probably from the German dialect word mugel.

Examples

An explosive New York Times story Thursday aired allegations of sexual harassment against the famed movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who told the publication he would take a leave of absence from his studio, the Weinstein Company. (The Bangor Daily News)

Jared Leto will star as the late Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner in an upcoming biopic from director Brett Ratner, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (The Business Insider)

Battelle, an Olympic mogul skier who learned to ski through Williston Central School’s Friday afternoon program at Cochran’s Ski Area in Richmond, has been named to the 2017 class of the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. (The Williston Observer)