carpetbagger

noun

car·​pet·​bag·​ger ˈkär-pət-ˌba-gər 

plural carpetbaggers

1

disapproving : a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the Reconstruction governments

2

disapproving : outsider

especially : a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics

carpetbaggery

ˈkär-pət-ˌba-g(ə-)rē 

noun

Examples of carpetbagger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The centerpiece will be a dish called carpetbagger steak, a whole ribeye stuffed with oysters. — Amanda Yeager, Baltimore Sun, 12 June 2024

Rivals have dubbed him a carpetbagger and a globalist, the kind that conservative parties have railed against over the past decade. — Sara Miller Llana, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Apr. 2025

And yet, carpetbaggers Wu, Healey, and Warren may all be easily reelected. — Douglas MacKinnon, Boston Herald, 12 Nov. 2025

The native New Yorker back in his hometown against a quintessential carpetbagger making yet another stop on the coaching trail. — Jimmy Golen, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from their carrying all their belongings in carpetbags

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for carpetbagger

• agger
• bagger
• dagger
• stagger
• swagger

Kids Definition

carpetbagger

noun

car·​pet·​bag·​ger ˈkär-pət-ˌbag-ər 

: a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments