cronyism
1 synonym for cronyism, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Giving friends favourable treatment, especially jobs or positions, regardless of whether they are actually qualified for them.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
cronydom
How to use cronyism
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
accusations of cronyism
political cronyism
rife with cronyism
cronyism and corruption
The word is critical by nature and is used to condemn favouritism, not to describe it neutrally.
Etymology
Cronyism is formed from crony, meaning a close friend, with the suffix -ism added to name a pattern of behaviour. The suffix turns the noun crony into a word for the practice of favouring one's friends.
Full origin of cronyism →Frequently asked questions
What does cronyism mean?
It means giving jobs, contracts or other advantages to friends rather than to whoever is genuinely best qualified.
Is cronyism the same as nepotism?
They are closely related terms for unfair favouritism, but cronyism is about favouring friends, whereas nepotism specifically involves favouring family members.
Is cronyism always about politics?
It is most often used about political appointments, but it can describe favouritism towards friends in any organisation.
