Boroughmongery

/ˈbʌroʊmʌŋɡəri/ noun

Definition

The system, practice, or business of engaging in boroughmongering; corrupt dealings in borough politics and administration.

Etymology

From 'boroughmonger' plus the suffix '-y' (forming nouns describing conditions or practices). This term characterizes the broader institutional corruption of a political system.

Kelly Says

The phenomenon of boroughmongery gave us the phrase 'pocket boroughs'—constituencies owned by wealthy families like personal property, where voters were literally told how to vote by their landlords, creating a grotesque parody of democracy.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.