Snollygoster
noun /ˈsnɒlɪˌɡɒstə/ — A shrewd, unprincipled person driven entirely by self-interest.
Definition
A person — often in politics or business — who operates purely on self-interest, using intelligence and cunning not in service of principle but of personal advantage. Shrewd, but with the ethics surgically removed.
Beyond the definition
The word sounds exactly right. There is a grasping quality in its consonants, a slipperiness in its vowels. Snollygosters are everywhere; we just needed the word.
Origin & history
American English, 19th century, particularly in political contexts. President Truman used it publicly in 1952. Origin uncertain — possibly coined from 'snallygaster' (a mythical monster).
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Every election season, the snollygosters come out — smiling, promising, measuring.
The boardroom was full of snollygosters dressed as visionaries.
She could spot a snollygoster in the first five minutes of a conversation.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Snollygoster” when the meaning fits your context: A person — often in politics or business — who operates purely on self-interest, using intelligence and cunning not in service of principle but of personal advantage. Shrewd, but with the ethics surgically removed.
Synonyms
opportunist, schemer, political animal, self-serving operator
Antonyms
idealist, person of principle
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Excluded from Decision-Making
Two adults in a room; one is standing tall and directing while the other is excluded, looking down and sidelined.
The person standing tall and pointing—if operating purely for personal advantage while excluding others—illustrates the snollygoster. Their cunning is used in the service of their own power and interest, with their ethics removed to favor personal control over the decision-making.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Snollygoster" mean?
Snollygoster is noun meaning: A shrewd, unprincipled person driven entirely by self-interest.. A person — often in politics or business — who operates purely on self-interest, using intelligence and cunning not in service of principle but of personal advantage. Shrewd, but with the ethics surgically removed.
Where does the word "Snollygoster" come from?
American English, 19th century, particularly in political contexts. President Truman used it publicly in 1952. Origin uncertain — possibly coined from 'snallygaster' (a mythical monster).