spoilsman
Definition
Noun: - A person who supports a political party primarily for personal gain: "spoilsman" refers to an individual who backs a political party or candidate with the expectation of receiving a government job or other material benefits as a reward, especially after an electoral victory.
Usage Examples
- (People who supported the candidate solely for personal career advantages.)
- (Individuals who became party supporters only to gain government appointments.)
Advanced Usage
- "spoils system": the practice of awarding government jobs to loyal party supporters, often criticized for promoting patronage rather than merit.
- The spoils system created a culture of spoilsmen who prioritized loyalty over competence. (A system where political allies are rewarded with positions.)
Variants and Related Words
- Spoils (n): goods or benefits obtained through victory or political success.
- The spoils of war included territory and resources. (The rewards gained from winning.)
- Spoilsman (n): a variant spelling; the primary form used in this definition.
Synonyms
- Patronage seeker: a person who pursues government jobs through political connections.
- Placeman: a person appointed to a position for political reasons rather than merit.
- Jobber: a person who seeks or obtains a job through political influence.
Related Idioms
- To the victor belong the spoils: a concept that the winning party in an election has the right to distribute government jobs and benefits to its supporters.
- After the election, the new president appointed many spoilsmen, following the principle that to the victor belong the spoils. (The winners reward their backers with positions.)
Phrasal Verbs
- (No direct phrasal verbs are associated with "spoilsman"; however, related phrases include "to share the spoils" or "to divide the spoils.")
- The spoilsmen gathered to share the spoils after the election. (They distributed the benefits among themselves.)