crony
Americannoun
plural
croniesnoun
Usage
What does crony mean? A crony is a close friend or associate, especially one among several.Crony can be used in a neutral way meaning much the same thing as buddy or pal, as in I still get together with my college cronies. But the word is most often used in a negative way to refer to a lackey or an accomplice in some kind of shady or illegal activity.It’s especially used in a political context to refer to friends or associates of people in power who are appointed to positions or otherwise shown favor due to their relationship with that person, rather than for their qualifications, as in He ran for office to enrich himself and his cronies. When used this way, it implies a criticism of such people.The term cronyism refers to the practice of appointing and otherwise favoring people in this way.Example: Several of the company’s executives were known to be cronies of the CEO, making them unpopular with many employees.
Etymology
Origin of crony
1655–65; alleged to be university slang; perhaps < Greek chrónios for a long time, long-continued, derivative of chrónos time; chrono-
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Many farms ended up in the hands of government or ruling party cronies while some fell into neglect.
From Barron's
While Charles had spent years getting closer to nature, and getting mocked for it, Andrew had been getting closer to Epstein and his cronies.
From BBC
Some of the factories were owned by Hasina's cronies, who have since fled.
From Barron's
Even Símon Bolívar, Venezuela’s “El Libertador,” looked the other way when his cronies squandered the finances of the country.
From Barron's
China's Ministry of Public Security said Thursday it would offer leniency if Chen's cronies turned themselves in.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
