Machiavelli

American  

[mak-ee-uh-vel-ee, mah-kyah-vel-lee] / ˌmæk i əˈvɛl i, ˌmɑ kyɑˈvɛl li /

noun

1. Niccolò di Bernardo 1469–1527, Italian statesman, political philosopher, and author.

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Machiavelli British  

/ ˌmækɪəˈvɛlɪ /

noun

1. Niccolò (nikkoˈlɔ). 1469–1527, Florentine statesman and political philosopher; secretary to the war council of the Florentine republic (1498–1512). His most famous work is Il Principe ( The Prince, 1532)

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Example Sentences

For Machiavelli, therefore, politics is inseparable from war.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Simons charged investors 5% management plus 44% of profits — and billionaires who negotiate prenups that would make Machiavelli weep begged to get in.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 15, 2025

The place never recovered financially post-pandemic, owner Suzette Jarding said, citing other operational difficulties as well; the silver lining here is that a new Machiavelli is already up and serving in Edmonds.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 9, 2024

Machiavelli saw this as the necessary performance of the lion role that the despot must always be ready to enact.

From Salon • Aug. 30, 2023

He was the Machiavelli of Ohio politics, the classic behind-the-scenes fixer, a shrewd and insightful judge of character or, at least, political opportunity.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell