spoils system
noun
: a practice of regarding public offices and their emoluments as plunder for members of the victorious party
Examples of spoils system in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Over a century ago, the federal government pivoted from a spoils system, where political favoritism ruled the day, into a system that rewards merit, knowledge and experience.
—
Carrie Johnson, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
Because beneath the innocuous-sounding words lies a morally dubious effort to create a permanent racial spoils system based on racial/ethnic proportional representation.
—Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 9 June 2025
Read more: Donald Trump wants to reinstate a spoils system in federal government by hiring political loyalists regardless of competence
2.
—Amy Lieberman, The Conversation, 14 May 2025
Expanding influence over the economy by threatening businesses and using tariffs to introduce a crisis and a spoils system?
—Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Federal employee protections started as a reform to the chaos caused by the 19th-century spoils system, in which federal jobs were awarded to a president’s loyalists.
—Brian Witte, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
But only months after being sworn in, the spoils system exacted its most horrifying toll.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2025
That law ended the corrupt spoils system where federal jobs were handed out as political favors.
—John C. Ronquillo, Baltimore Sun, 9 Dec. 2024
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Carrie Johnson, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
Because beneath the innocuous-sounding words lies a morally dubious effort to create a permanent racial spoils system based on racial/ethnic proportional representation.
—Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 9 June 2025
Read more: Donald Trump wants to reinstate a spoils system in federal government by hiring political loyalists regardless of competence
2.
—Amy Lieberman, The Conversation, 14 May 2025
Expanding influence over the economy by threatening businesses and using tariffs to introduce a crisis and a spoils system?
—Garry Kasparov, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025
Federal employee protections started as a reform to the chaos caused by the 19th-century spoils system, in which federal jobs were awarded to a president’s loyalists.
—Brian Witte, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025
But only months after being sworn in, the spoils system exacted its most horrifying toll.
—Mo Rocca, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2025
That law ended the corrupt spoils system where federal jobs were handed out as political favors.
—John C. Ronquillo, Baltimore Sun, 9 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Spoils system.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoils%20system. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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