placeman

American  

[pleys-muhn] / ˈpleɪs mən /

noun

British.

plural

placemen

1. a person appointed to a position, especially one in the government, as a reward for political support of an elected official.

---

placeman British  

/ ˈpleɪsmən /

noun

1. derogatory a person who holds a public office, esp for private profit and as a reward for political support

---

Other Word Forms

• placemanship noun

Etymology

Origin of placeman

First recorded in 1735–45; place + -man

Example Sentences

Mr Sharif has installed a loyal placeman, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, previously the minister for natural resources, as interim prime minister.

From Economist • Aug. 3, 2017

Meanwhile, far from being a Whelan placeman, Cryer was another of his targets.

From The Guardian • Mar. 21, 2010

The French Constitution says that to preserve the national representation from being corrupt, no member of the National Assembly shall be an officer of the government, a placeman or a pensioner.

From Writings of Thomas Paine — Volume 2 (1779-1792): the Rights of Man by Conway, Moncure Daniel

He was blindly ignorant of naval affairs, coarse, obstinate, a placeman who owed his position to intrigue and favoritism.

From The Conquest of New France A chronicle of the colonial wars by Wrong, George McKinnon

But he does not yet know, for it was not necessary for our story he should do so, that the honourable Mr. Prattle was a commoner and a placeman.

From Damon and Delia A Tale by Godwin, William