cronyism

crony +‎ -ism

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹəʊ.ni.ɪ.zəm/

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• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkɹoʊ.ni.ɪ.zəm/

cronyism (countable and uncountable, plural cronyisms)

1. Favoritism to friends without regard for their qualifications, especially by appointing them to political positions.

   Coordinate terms: nepotism, patronage

   • 2013, Randall G. Holcombe; Andrea M. Castillo, Liberalism and Cronyism: Two Rival Political and Economic Systems, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, →ISBN:

     Because of this centralized command structure, communist societies fall prey to the forces of cronyism and influence-peddling as commune members without economic power curry favor with commune leaders that control access to resources.

   • 2015, Thomas J. Gradel; Dick Simpson, Corrupt Illinois: Patronage, Cronyism, and Criminality, University of Illinois Press, →ISBN, page 117:

     Patronage, nepotism, cronyism, abuse of power, and criminal activity flourish, sometimes for decades, in numerous town halls, police stations, and special-purpose government agencies in the suburbs.

• “cronyism”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

• crimsony