Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

panjandrum

noun
/ˈpæn.dʒæn.drəm/
Definition
A person who has or claims to have a great deal of authority or influence.
Examples
  • Despite his claims of being a panjandrum in the marketing department, his ideas were rarely implemented.
  • The committee’s panjandrum often went unchallenged due to his long-standing position.
Meaning
The term is often used humorously to refer to someone who thinks highly of themselves or their importance in a particular situation.
Synonyms
  • authority
  • powerbroker
  • tycoon
  • bigwig