Word of the Day

: November 12, 2015

sinecure

noun SYE-nih-kyoor

What It Means

: an office or position that requires little or no work and that usually provides an income

sinecure in Context

The king was in the habit of rewarding his loyal supporters with sinecures.

"The status of former presidential nominee turned influential insider is more than just a nice sinecure for a politician in the twilight of his career. It's the foundation for another presidential run." — Jamelle Bouie, The Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2015

Did You Know?

Sinecure comes from the Medieval Latin phrase sine cura, which literally means "without cure." No, the first sinecures were not cushy jobs for those suffering with incurable maladies. The word sinecure first referred to "an ecclesiastical benefice without cure of souls"—that is, a church position in which the job-holder did not have to tend to the spiritual care and instruction of church members. Such sinecures were virtually done away with by the end of the 19th century, but by then the word had acquired a broader sense referring to any paid position with few or no responsibilities.