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
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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
Industry analysts hailed the initiative as a timely jolt to the system of old-guard cronyism in Japan’s entertainment industry, which is nonetheless drawing growing global interest thanks to the worldwide popularity of Japanese stories and anime.
—
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025
Musk had pushed to install his friend Jared Isaacman as head of the agency—a move that stank of cronyism.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
Those allegations followed lawsuits filed last week against the mayor by four ex-NYPD chiefs who alleged a similar pattern of cronyism and corruption.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 17 July 2025
An American charity that has raised hundreds of millions of dollars by promising to meet the emergency needs of Israeli soldiers after the war in Gaza broke out is now facing internal turmoil over allegations of financial mismanagement, cronyism, and a toxic workplace culture.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 14 July 2025
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Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025
Musk had pushed to install his friend Jared Isaacman as head of the agency—a move that stank of cronyism.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025
Those allegations followed lawsuits filed last week against the mayor by four ex-NYPD chiefs who alleged a similar pattern of cronyism and corruption.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 17 July 2025
An American charity that has raised hundreds of millions of dollars by promising to meet the emergency needs of Israeli soldiers after the war in Gaza broke out is now facing internal turmoil over allegations of financial mismanagement, cronyism, and a toxic workplace culture.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cronyism
Cite this Entry
“Cronyism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cronyism. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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