What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
nepotism
Example
The CEO was accused of nepotism after he hired his son as the company's CFO. [nepotism: noun]
Example
She got the job because of her father's nepotism, not because of her qualifications. [nepotism: noun]
cronyism
Example
The mayor was accused of cronyism after he awarded a contract to his friend's construction company. [cronyism: noun]
Example
He only got the job because of his cronyism with the hiring manager. [cronyism: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nepotism is more commonly used than cronyism in everyday language. Nepotism is often associated with politics and business, while cronyism is more commonly used in political contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between nepotism and cronyism?
Both nepotism and cronyism are considered informal terms and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.
