Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

Machiavelli, Niccolò

Cultural  

  1. An Italian political philosopher of the Renaissance. Machiavelli was the author of The Prince, a book that advises rulers to retain their power through cunning and ruthlessness.

Discover More

A “Machiavellian” individual is one who subordinates moral principle to political or personal goals.

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.

Macao, 49 Machiavelli, Niccolò, 26 “machine state,” 54 MacNair, Harley Farnsworth, 11n.

From The Political Doctrines of Sun Yat-sen: An Exposition of the San Min Chu I by Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony

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.

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "Machiavelli, Niccolò" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com