The story
From crony (“close friend”) + -ism (suffix forming names of a tendency of action, behaviour, condition, opinion, or state belonging to a class or group of persons).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Today it means: Favouritism to friends without regard for their qualifications; especially (politics), in their appointment to political positions. Full definition →
From crony (“close friend”) + -ism (suffix forming names of a tendency of action, behaviour, condition, opinion, or state belonging to a class or group of persons).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.