cronyism

noun

cro·​ny·​ism ˈkrō-nē-ˌi-zəm 

: partiality to cronies especially as evidenced in the appointment of political hangers-on to office without regard to their qualifications

Did you know?

The word cronyism evolved in the 19th century as a spin-off of crony, meaning “friend” or “pal.” In its younger days, cronyism simply meant “friendship,” or “the ability to make friends.” The word didn’t turn bad until the next century, when Americans starting using it to refer to the act of playing political favorites. If cronyism is new to your vocabulary, perhaps you’re more familiar with the related term nepotism, meaning “favoritism based on kinship, especially in professional and political contexts.”

Examples of cronyism in a Sentence

The mayor has been accused of cronyism.

Recent Examples on the Web

My first act will be to audit the agency, cut waste, end cronyism, & make sure every dollar serves Texas farmers, ranchers, and consumers—not political insiders. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026

But in America, backroom deals, cronyism, and countless middle players proliferate in the dark and drive costs into the stratosphere. —Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026

Think of the major alternatives, which include popularity, wealth, cronyism, nepotism or a lottery system. —Kenji Yoshino, Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2026

Public trust in the justice system is eroded when political cronyism is rewarded over fairness, when accountability is resisted, and when devastating errors are defended instead of confronted. —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cronyism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

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