logrolling

American  

[lawg-roh-ling, log-] / ˈlɔgˌroʊ lɪŋ, ˈlɒg- /

noun

1. U.S. Politics. the exchange of support or favors, especially by legislators for mutual political gain as by voting for each other's bills.

   a state senate famous for its logrolling—and suspected of rampant corruption.

2. cronyism or mutual favoritism among writers, editors, or critics, as in the form of reciprocal flattering reviews; back scratching.

   the well-established journalistic practice of logrolling and mutual admiration.

3. the action of rolling a log or logs to a particular place.

4. the action of rotating a log rapidly in the water by treading upon it, especially as a competitive sport; birling.

---

logrolling British  

/ ˈlɒɡˌrəʊlɪŋ /

noun

1. the practice of undemocratic agreements between politicians involving mutual favours, the trading of votes, etc

2. another name for birling See birl 1

---

logrolling Cultural  

1. In politics, advance agreement by legislators to vote for one another's bills. Logrolling is most common when legislators are trying to secure votes for bills that will benefit their home districts. For example, a group of congressmen from the Middle West pushing for higher dairy prices and a group of southern congressmen supporting higher tobacco prices might make a logrolling agreement in order to get both bills passed.

---

Etymology

Origin of logrolling

An Americanism dating back to 1785–95; log ¹ + rolling

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

logrolling

While women have taken part in the world championships since the inaugural event in 1960, they were originally limited to logrolling.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

“The single-subject rule prevents logrolling, namely, the passage of legislation that, if standing alone, could not muster the necessary votes for enactment,” the lawsuit reads.

From Seattle Times ● May 30, 2023

CIRM’s grantmaking record also fosters the impression of institutional logrolling.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2019

There are plenty of other fish out there to swim with—people with whom to share rewarding comradeship and nourishing ideas and brazen logrolling.

From Slate ● Jan. 15, 2015

From this source we get "dark horse," "the gray mare is the better horse," "barrel of money," "buncombe," "gerrymander," "scalawag," "henchman," "logrolling," "pulling the wires," "taking the stump," "machine," "slate," etc.

From How to Speak and Write Correctly by Joseph Devlin

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• aid
• assistance
• collaboration
• participation
• partnership
• service
• unity

---