sinecure

American  

[sahy-ni-kyoor, sin-i-] / ˈsaɪ nɪˌkyʊər, ˈsɪn ɪ- /

noun

1. an office or position requiring little or no work, especially one yielding profitable returns.

2. an ecclesiastical benefice without cure of souls.

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sinecure British  

/ ˈsaɪnɪˌkjʊə /

noun

1. a paid office or post involving minimal duties

2. a Church benefice to which no spiritual or pastoral charge is attached

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Other Word Forms

• sinecureship
  noun
• sinecurism
  noun
• sinecurist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of sinecure

First recorded in 1655–65; from Medieval Latin (beneficium) sine cūrā “(benefice) without care (of parishioners).” See cure

Explanation

If you have a cushy job — one that pays, but involves minimal work — then you have a sinecure. "Because he was the brother of the CEO, he was offered a sinecure in the company: he showed up each day and collected a paycheck, but others actually did his work." The noun sinecure comes from the Latin root words sine cura meaning "without care." It originally was used to describe a church position that did not include caring for the souls of parishioners, but that meaning is considered archaic now. The word is now usually associated with political appointments.

Example Sentences

And had Sasse wanted a think tank sinecure or some corporate board seats, no one would have protested.

From Washington Post • Oct. 14, 2022

The book was revised at Lake Geneva’s Montreux Palace, where Vladimir and Véra lived after Lolita’s success provided a comfortable sinecure.

From The Guardian • Sep. 13, 2020

As has been noted widely on Twitter, you’d think that would be enough to ensure your kids admission to top colleges the old-fashioned way: with a sinecure.

From Slate • Mar. 12, 2019

It is a life-long sinecure for the "therapist", but only a waste of time and money for the patient.

From New York Times • Mar. 2, 2018

But she would: The job was a bit of a sinecure after all; he would not have been offered it in the first place if the editor were not an old friend of hers.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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