mandarin

1 of 2

noun

man·​da·​rin ˈman-d(ə-)rən 

1

a

: a public official in the Chinese Empire of any of nine superior grades

b(1)

: a pedantic official

(2)

: bureaucrat

c

: a person of position and influence often in intellectual or literary circles

especially : an elder and often traditionalist or reactionary member of such a circle

2

capitalized

a

: a form of spoken Chinese used by the court and the official classes of the Empire

b

: the group of closely related Chinese dialects that are spoken in about four fifths of the country and have a standard variety centering about Beijing

3

[Swedish mandarin (apelsin) mandarin (orange), ultimately from Portuguese mandarim mandarin; perhaps from the color of a mandarin's robes]

a

: a small spiny orange tree (Citrus reticulata) of southeastern Asia with yellow to reddish-orange loose-rinded fruits

also : a tree (such as the satsuma) developed in cultivation from the mandarin by selective breeding or hybridization

b

: the fruit of a mandarin

mandarinic

ˌman-də-ˈri-nik 

adjective

mandarinism

ˈman-d(ə-)rə-ˌni-zəm 

noun

mandarin

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or typical of a mandarin

mandarin graces

2

: marked by polished ornate complexity of language

mandarin prose

Did you know?

The Portuguese were the first to refer to a Chinese official as a "mandarin." The word hails from the Portuguese word mandarim, which developed, by way of Malay měntěri, from Sanskrit mantrin, meaning "counselor." Mandarins were promoted by successfully completing the imperial Chinese examination system, which was primarily based on the teachings of Confucian texts. In time, mandarin became a word for a pedantic official, a bureaucrat, or a person of position and influence. The noun passed into the English language in the late 16th century, and the adjective appeared in the early 17th. You may also know Mandarin as a word for the chief dialect of China or be familiar with the mandarin orange (the fruit's name comes from the orange color of a mandarin official's robe).

Synonyms

Noun

• bureaucrat
• civil servant
• functionary
• public servant

Examples of mandarin in a Sentence

Noun

the officious mandarins in the motor vehicles department refused to let me renew my license without all of the required forms

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Dishes are seasonal and inventive, with ingredients either straight from their kitchen garden or from other parts of this bountiful state: expect seared tuna from Port Lincoln with chili and mandarin oil, and risotto with asparagus as green as those vineyards. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Dec. 2024

According to some of our cultural mandarins, objecting to graphic material in grade-school libraries and the presence of men in women’s sports, embracing displays of patriotic vexillology, and enjoying The Lord of the Rings are all signs of far-right extremism. —Jack Butler, National Review, 1 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Siberian pine, Virginian cedar, cypress and mandarin essential oils provide the soothing woodsy scent, reminiscent of forest bathing. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024

Calvin Klein’s eau de parfum is timeless through top notes of freesia and mandarin opposing sandalwood and white lily. —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 16 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Portuguese mandarim, from Malay mĕntĕri, from Sanskrit mantrin counselor, from mantra counsel — more at mantra

First Known Use

Noun

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mandarin

• mandarin collar
• mandarin orange

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Kids Definition

mandarin

noun

man·​da·​rin

ˈman-d(ə-)rən

1

: a public official under the Chinese Empire

2

capitalized : the chief dialect of China centering about Beijing

3

: a small spiny Chinese orange tree with yellow to reddish orange fruits having loose rinds

also : its fruit