carpetbag Definition
- 1a person from the northern states who went to the southern states after the American Civil War to make money or take part in politics
- 2a soft bag for carrying clothes, made of carpet material
Using carpetbag: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "carpetbag" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He was accused of being a carpetbagger and exploiting the South's resources.
Example
The carpetbag was filled with his belongings for the trip.
carpetbag Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for carpetbag
Phrases with carpetbag
a government formed by northerners who moved to the south after the Civil War
Example
The carpetbag government was seen as corrupt and ineffective by many southerners.
the period of time when carpetbaggers controlled the southern state governments during Reconstruction
Example
Carpetbag rule was marked by corruption and political instability.
a phenomenon where people from one region move to another region and are seen as outsiders or interlopers
Example
He experienced the carpetbagger syndrome when he moved from the city to the countryside.
Origins of carpetbag
from the image of carrying a bag made of carpet material
Summary: carpetbag in Brief
'Carpetbag' [ˈkɑːrpɪtbæɡ] refers to a person from the northern states who moved to the southern states after the American Civil War to make money or take part in politics. It can also mean a soft bag for carrying clothes, made of carpet material. The term has extended to phrases like 'carpetbag government' and 'carpetbagger syndrome,' and is sometimes used informally as 'carpet knight' or 'carpetbagger.'
