machine, political

Cultural  

1. An administration of elected public officials who use their influential positions to solidify and perpetuate the power of their political party, often through dubious means. Machine politicians make free use of the spoils system and patronage, rewarding loyal party supporters with appointed government jobs. Other machine methods include gerrymandering election districts; planting party representatives in neighborhoods; making deals with judges, lawyers, and other professionals; and “buying” votes by offering social services to potential voters. When machine politics was especially strong in the United States, during the latter half of the nineteenth century, politicians would go so far as to offer beer for votes and would embezzle large amounts of public money. Machines also dominated party caucuses and conventions, thereby affecting politics at all levels of government.

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The most impressive political machine of the twentieth century was that of Mayor Richard Daley, in Chicago.

Machines are usually associated with big-city politics.

Example Sentences

The sanctions will certainly ramp up the pressure on Maduro, but there is no guarantee they will lead to the desired political outcomes, Oxford Analytica noted.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

Some ambassadorships are much desired political plums, and whenever a new President moves into the White House, he typically makes many new appointments.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2016

These are commonly referred to as Operations Other Than War, even though they may include the use of force to achieve desired political goals.

From Shock and Awe — Achieving Rapid Dominance by Wade, James P.

But the Zealots desired political as well as religious freedom, and they fomented rebellion.

From Josephus by Bentwich, Norman

For if the Protestants desired political liberty, many of the Catholics wished for it too, as is proved by the writings of the time, and even by the fact that the League summoned the estates.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 8 "France" to "Francis Joseph I." by Various