bully pulpit

noun

: a prominent public position (such as a political office) that provides an opportunity for expounding one's views

also : such an opportunity

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Bully vs Bully Pulpit

Bully pulpit comes from the 26th U.S. president, Theodore Roosevelt, who observed that his time in office at the White House was a bully pulpit when he said, “I suppose my critics will call that preaching, but I have got such a bully pulpit!” For Roosevelt, bully was an adjective meaning “excellent” or “first-rate”—not today's familiar noun bully referring to an abusive meanie. Roosevelt understood the modern presidency’s power of persuasion and recognized that it gave the incumbent the opportunity to exhort, instruct, or inspire. He took full advantage of his bully pulpit, speaking out about the danger of monopolies, the nation’s growing role as a world power, and other issues important to him. Since the 1960s, bully pulpit has been used as a term for a public position—especially a political office—that provides one with the opportunity to widely share one’s views.

Examples of bully pulpit in a Sentence

She uses her position as a famous actress as a bully pulpit.

Recent Examples on the Web Also this week, Biden and his 2020 rival Sen. Bernie Sanders teamed up to tout lower prescription drug costs for older Americans, whether through legislation or the bully pulpit. —

Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024 After the 2020 murder of George Floyd, as the country convulsed with protests over policing, Abdullah found herself with a bully pulpit and used it. —

Jamil Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2024 Free speech advocates had urged the court to use the case to draw an appropriate line between the government’s acceptable use of the bully pulpit and coercive threats to free speech. —

Alena Botros, Fortune, 26 June 2024 The case turned on whether the Biden administration had been using the bully pulpit or was actually bullying when officials urged removal of controversial posts on COVID vaccines and other issues. —

Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 26 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for bully pulpit

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bully pulpit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.