roorback

or roor·bach

[ roor-bak ]

noun

1. a false and more or less damaging report circulated for political effect, usually about a candidate seeking an office.

roorback

/ ˈrʊəˌbæk /

noun

1. a false or distorted report or account, used to obtain political advantage

Word History and Origins

Origin of roorback¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1844, after a fictitious Baron von Roorback, in whose travelogue occurred an account of an incident damaging to the character of James K. Polk

Word History and Origins

Origin of roorback¹

C19: after Baron von Roorback , invented author of an imaginary Tour through the Western and Southern States (1844), which contained a passage defaming James K. Polk

Example Sentences

His latest encounter with a roorback was well nigh fatal.

From Time Magazine Archive

The roorback hibernates during political off-years and roars back to life during national presidential campaigns.

From Time Magazine Archive

The word comes from a report published in Whig papers on the eve of the 1844 election, attributed to a fictitious Baron Roorback.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week as a Washington grand jury pursued its investigation it was clear to everybody that "The Hopkins Letter" was indeed a roorback.

From Time Magazine Archive

The last notable roorback* in U.S. history had been the forgery of a James A. Garfield letter in 1880.

From Time Magazine Archive