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Machiavelli

American  
[mak-ee-uh-vel-ee, mah-kyah-vel-lee] / ˌmæk i əˈvɛl i, ˌmɑ kjɑˈvɛl li /

noun

  1. Niccolò di Bernardo 1469–1527, Italian statesman, political philosopher, and author.


Machiavelli British  
/ ˌmækɪəˈvɛlɪ /

noun

  1. Niccolò (nikkoˈlɔ). 1469–1527, Florentine statesman and political philosopher; secretary to the war council of the Florentine republic (1498–1512). His most famous work is Il Principe ( The Prince, 1532)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

See Examples For:

Simons charged investors 5% management plus 44% of profits — and billionaires who negotiate prenups that would make Machiavelli weep begged to get in.

From MarketWatch Nov. 15, 2025

Last month, a professor and a prominent alum were sharing a ride to Boston for a weekend seminar about Machiavelli.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 10, 2025

The cast of Renaissance characters is also large and somewhat ungainly, populated with outsize historical players that include Michelangelo, Savonarola, Raphael, Niccolò Machiavelli, Cesare Borgia, various popes, assorted Medicis and many more.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 18, 2024

The place never recovered financially post-pandemic, owner Suzette Jarding said, citing other operational difficulties as well; the silver lining here is that a new Machiavelli is already up and serving in Edmonds.

From Seattle Times Apr. 9, 2024

Massasoit was an adroit politician, but the dilemma he faced would have tested Machiavelli.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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