eminence grise

Noun

Meaning

(French) a person who exercises power or influence in certain areas without holding an official position

Source: WordNet

Synonyms

kingmaker lobbyist ingroup finagler logroller

Hypernyms

personage important person influential person

Examples

the President's wife is an eminence grise in matters of education Source: Internet

Despite a penchant for poetry and art, she is no less formidable than her husband and believed by many to be the eminence grise behind him. Source: Internet

"He is active from the background, an eminence grise," the source said. Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms

Eminem Eminemesque eminence eminency eminent eminent baron