Buckley rule

proper noun

The rule of supporting the most right-wing viable candidate for a given office.

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Meanings

proper nounthe Buckley rule

alternative Buckley's rule

  1. USgovernmentThe rule of supporting the most right-wing viable candidate for a given office.

Origin

After William F. Buckley Jr., who stated the rule in connection with National Review magazine.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Buckley rule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Buckley%20rule

MLA

“Buckley rule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Buckley%20rule. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Buckley rule,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Buckley%20rule.

Source: Buckley rule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.