close friends or associates, often used negatively to suggest unfair favoritism or political corruption.
From Cambridge University slang 'crony' (close companion), derived from Greek 'chronios' (of long duration/longtime). Originally neutral, it became derogatory in the 17th-18th centuries describing corrupt political connections.
The term 'cronyism' describes when leaders hire unqualified friends for important positions—it's so common in politics and business that economists study its economic damage, finding it decreases efficiency and increases corruption.
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