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.
Tariffs are often used to reward political or business cronies, benefiting some but at the expense of the majority. Alejandro Antonio Chafuen, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 Kim’s film opens in high gear, with Chun sensing his chance to exploit a temporary power vacuum, and then never lets up as his band of cronies facilitate the plan with bribery, intimidation and the murder of fellow soldiers. Richard Kuipers, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024 From April 3 through 6, host chef Mario Pagán will bring together culinary cronies from across the island (and some visiting VIPs) to La Concha Resort for four days that will include a beachside barbecue, cooking demos, and tastings. Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Dec. 2024 Backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, Assad and his cronies used chemical weapons and engaged in widescale bombing, torture, and disappearance of the Syrian people. Carol E. Lee, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near crony

Cite this Entry

“Crony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crony. Accessed 18 Jan. 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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