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
Some might say there was a lot of cronyism involved, and there definitely was, but the DJs at WHRB put a lot of work into promoting us on the show Record Hospital.
—
Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Yet as China moves closer to the technological frontier, where success depends on unpredictable breakthrough innovations, top-down monitoring becomes more difficult, and the system grows more vulnerable to cronyism.
—Carl Benedikt Frey, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2025
One year after her appointment, Karki faced an impeachment motion from the ruling coalition after her bench overturned the government’s choice for police chief, a decision seen as a defense of meritocracy against political cronyism.
—Sugam Pokharel, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
The absence of corruption, scandal, self-dealing and cronyism makes this a revitalizing break from real-world concerns, without in any way veering into sappy idealism.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
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Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Yet as China moves closer to the technological frontier, where success depends on unpredictable breakthrough innovations, top-down monitoring becomes more difficult, and the system grows more vulnerable to cronyism.
—Carl Benedikt Frey, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2025
One year after her appointment, Karki faced an impeachment motion from the ruling coalition after her bench overturned the government’s choice for police chief, a decision seen as a defense of meritocracy against political cronyism.
—Sugam Pokharel, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
The absence of corruption, scandal, self-dealing and cronyism makes this a revitalizing break from real-world concerns, without in any way veering into sappy idealism.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 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 29 Oct. 2025.
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