crony

noun

cro·​ny ˈkrō-nē How to pronounce crony (audio)
plural cronies
: a close friend usually of long standing : pal
played golf with his cronies
often, specifically : a person who unfairly receives special treatment see also cronyism, crony capitalism

Examples of crony in a Sentence

The mayor rewarded his cronies with high-paying jobs after he was elected. the criminal's cronies were also closely questioned about the illegal gambling operation
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It was intended to prevent presidents from handing out patronage jobs and filling the administration with political cronies. Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025 So far there’s been Luca (Patrick Murney), Devlin (Cillian O’Sullivan), Powell (Hamish Allen-Headley), and Fisk’s cronies Buck (Arty Froushan) and Daniel (Michael Gandolfini) — and Episode 7 takes the mask of Muse (Hunter Doohan). Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2025 By absolving his former patron, Ford helped create a new Washington ritual: the moment when presidents release their cronies, friends, and family from the bonds of justice. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025 Declining to contribute money to him and his cronies? Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for crony

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Greek chronios long-lasting, from chronos time

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crony was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crony. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

crony

noun
cro·​ny ˈkrō-nē How to pronounce crony (audio)
plural cronies
: a close companion : pal
politicians who get jobs for their cronies

More from Merriam-Webster on crony

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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