Machiavelli

American  

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

noun

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

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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)

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Example Sentences

On a campus where expectations outpace reality, the 75 minutes Mr. Mansfield devoted to Machiavelli or Hobbes felt special.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

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

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

As Machiavelli warned, the ruler must not be taken in by flatterers.

From Salon • Oct. 3, 2024

He was the Machiavelli of Ohio politics, the classic behind-the-scenes fixer, a shrewd and insightful judge of character or, at least, political opportunity.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell