A system or practice of rule by a boss, especially in politics where a single powerful person controls a party or organization.
From 'boss' + '-ism' (suffix denoting a system, doctrine, or practice). Emerged in 19th-century American English to describe political machine governance, particularly in urban centers.
Bossism was a defining feature of American cities like New York and Chicago in the late 1800s, where political 'bosses' controlled everything from jobs to school contracts—it's where the term 'political machine' comes from.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.