macher

noun

mach·​er ˈmä-ḵər 

plural machers

: a powerful, influential person

His business partner at the agency is the operatically colorful macher Ari Emanuel, and they know more than almost anyone about how to use tabloid ink to boost a client or break a competitor.

—Amy Chozick

Born in 1948, I am part of the baby boomer generation, and while I was not a macher, I played a role, albeit a small one, in both my Orthodox community and the broader American Jewish world.

—Joseph R. Rackman

Examples of macher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, LaVey was on Summit Drive, mingling with music-industry machers, Hollywood heavies, and Davis’ nearest and dearest. —Alex Bhattacharji, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2024

The two leaders identified key safety concerns to address urgently: traffic, violence, drugs. — VALLEY PASSING: Former Police Commission president and San Fernando Valley automotive macher Bert Boeckmann has died at 92. —Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2023

In Yiddish, the macher. —Sam Kestenbaum, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2022

Chino is a good kid who one day is asked a favor by Willie Bodega, the local macher. —New York Times, 30 June 2022

The best is Adrian Boseman, a charismatic macher played by the great Delroy Lindo. —Sophia Nguyen, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Yiddish makher "influential person, fixer," literally, "maker," going back to Middle High German macher "maker, creator," from machen "to make, do" (going back to Old High German mahhōn) + -er -er entry 2 — more at make entry 1

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above