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Definition of crony

crony

/ˈkroʊni/
cro · ny
Plural:cronies
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crony Lexical Profile

crony Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A close friend or companion, especially one who receives unfair political or business favors from a person in power.

Example

"The mayor was accused of awarding lucrative city contracts to his longtime political cronies."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for crony
Antonyms
View all antonyms for crony

Word Nuance & Usage

While 'crony' originally meant an old friend or classmate, in modern usage it carries a strongly derogatory connotation, typically implying political or business favoritism and corruption (as in 'cronyism' or 'crony capitalism').

• Rhymes for crony

• Nearby Words

cromwell
crone
cronus
crony
cronyism
crook
crooked

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-17th century as Cambridge University slang from the Ancient Greek 'khronios' (meaning 'long-lasting'), derived from 'khronos' ('time'), originally referring to a contemporary or long-standing friend.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Crony. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/crony
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