WordValecronyism
favoring friends by giving them positions of power
In more detail
the practice of giving jobs or favors to friends or associates, even when they are not the most qualified or suitable people for those positions
Examples
- The mayor was accused of cronyism after hiring his brother for a high-paying city job.
How to use cronyism
Cronyism refers to the systemic practice of advancing unqualified associates, typically in political, corporate, or institutional contexts. It carries a strong negative connotation and is used when criticizing unfair hiring or appointment practices. While nepotism specifically refers to favoring relatives, cronyism focuses on friends and associates more broadly.
Common phrases
- rampant cronyism
- accusations of cronyism
- combat cronyism
- cronyism and corruption
- cronyism in government
Synonyms
nepotism · favoritism · patronage · old boy network · corruption
Opposites
meritocracy · impartiality
Word family
crony (noun) · cronyist (noun, rare) · cronyistic (adjective, rare)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'cronyism' to mean simple friendship or favoritism in casual social contexts, but it specifically denotes an institutional or systemic practice of misallocating positions or resources based on personal connections rather than merit.
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