(in the past) a Spanish or Portuguese nobleman of high rank （旧时西班牙或葡萄牙的）大公 a person of high social rank and importance 大人物；显要人物 Is corruption condoned by powerful grandees in government and business? 政府和商界权贵是否纵容腐败？
Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese grande ‘grand’, used as a noun. The change of ending was due to association with -ee.