cronyism
UK /ˈkɹəʊnɪɪz(ə)m/ · US /ˈkɹoʊniˌɪzəm/ noun
Forms cronyisms croneyism
- noun (originally US, derogatory) Favouritism to friends without regard for their qualifications; especially (politics), in their appointment to political positions.
- noun (obsolete) The condition of being friends; friendship; also, the ability or inclination to make friends.
Synonyms
Etymology
From crony (“close friend”) + -ism (suffix forming names of a tendency of action, behaviour, condition, opinion, or state belonging to a class or group of persons).
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “cronyism”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details