carpetbagging
carpetbagging Lexical Profile
carpetbagging Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Seeking political office or financial advantage in an area or organization where one has no prior local ties or genuine connection.
"Local voters rejected the carpetbagging candidate in favor of the longtime community mayor."
• noun
The practice of an outsider relocating to a new region or district to gain political office or financial advantage, despite having no previous local ties.
"Accusations of carpetbagging dominated the senate campaign after the candidate rented an apartment in the state just weeks before filing."
British The practice of joining a mutual organization, such as a building society, solely to profit from a windfall payout if it converts into a public limited company.
"Several building societies raised their minimum deposit requirements to deter carpetbagging by speculative investors."
• verb
To act as a political or financial opportunist by seeking office or profit in an area with which one has no prior connection (present participle of carpetbag).
"Critics accused the millionaire of carpetbagging into a rural congressional district simply because the seat was open."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from 'carpetbagger,' a post-American Civil War term for Northerners who moved to the South during Reconstruction carrying their belongings in cheap luggage made from old carpet fabric.