godfatherism

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noun

A form of political corruption in which an influential individual handpicks another, often less influential candidate, to attain leadership in order to exert authority or influence. This may be due to the unpopularity of one candidate, or to work around incumbency term limits.

Scrabble 22
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Meanings

noungodfatherism (uncountable)
  1. NigeriauncountableA form of political corruption in which an influential individual handpicks another, often less influential candidate, to attain leadership in order to exert authority or influence. This may be due to the unpopularity of one candidate, or to work around incumbency term limits.

Origin

From godfather + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“godfatherism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/godfatherism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “godfatherism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/godfatherism.

Source: godfatherism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.