placeman

American  

[pleys-muhn] / ˈpleɪs mən /

noun

British.

plural

placemen

1. a person appointed to a position, especially one in the government, as a reward for political support of an elected official.

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placeman British  

/ ˈpleɪsmən /

noun

1. derogatory a person who holds a public office, esp for private profit and as a reward for political support

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Other Word Forms

• placemanship
  noun

Etymology

Origin of placeman

First recorded in 1735–45; place + -man

Example Sentences

Mr Sharif has installed a loyal placeman, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, previously the minister for natural resources, as interim prime minister.

From Economist • Aug. 3, 2017

Meanwhile, far from being a Whelan placeman, Cryer was another of his targets.

From The Guardian • Mar. 21, 2010

The truth is no placeman now knows his right key,   The Treasury pitch-pipe of late is so various; And certain base voices, that lookt for a fee   At the York music-meeting now think it precarious.

From The Complete Poems of Sir Thomas Moore Collected by Himself with Explanatory Notes by Rossetti, William Michael

Newcastle never counted the cost so long as there was a county member to be bought or a placeman to be satisfied.

From A History of the Four Georges and of William IV, Volume III by McCarthy, Justin

There was hardly a hungry placeman in London who had not as just pretensions to the honor.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 02, No. 11, September, 1858 by Various