punditocracy

American  

[puhn-di-tok-ruh-see] / ˌpʌn dɪˈtɒk rə si /

noun

1. influential media pundits collectively.

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Etymology

Origin of punditocracy

First recorded in 1985–90; pundit ( def. ) + -o- ( def. ) + -cracy ( def. )

Explanation

The punditocracy is a powerful, influential group of professional commentators, journalists, and media personalities who help shape public opinion and political discourse. The word punditocracy is a portmanteau of pundit, which comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "learned man or teacher," and -ocracy, a word ending that indicates a form of government or a ruling class. So literally, the word would mean "rule by the learned." In modern times, however, pundits usually refers to "media experts" whom you might watch discussing topics on 24-hour news channels or listen to on podcasts. The term punditocracy is often used pejoratively to describe this group of "talking heads" who exert significant political power and societal influence.

Example Sentences

What left former Ibrox players amid the punditocracy most troubled was Rangers' apparent lack of belief in themselves.

From BBC • Sep. 26, 2025

This was largely devoted to lowering the cost of housing, food, medical services and child-raising for families, and generated a swell of quibbles in the press and the punditocracy.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 20, 2024

Most of the D.C. punditocracy has dismissed this as nothing more than Smith "dotting his I's and crossing his T's" before he makes his case.

From Salon • May 26, 2023

In English soccer’s ever-voluble punditocracy, its content-industrial complex, some saw him as a “diamond.”

From New York Times • Mar. 26, 2021

Collymore was to earn £13,000 a week and the punditocracy wondered where it would end.

From The Guardian • Aug. 27, 2014