bully pulpit

noun

: a prominent public position (such as a political office) that provides an opportunity for expounding one's views

also : such an opportunity

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Bully vs Bully Pulpit

Bully pulpit comes from the 26th U.S. president, Theodore Roosevelt, who observed that his time in office at the White House was a bully pulpit when he said, “I suppose my critics will call that preaching, but I have got such a bully pulpit!” For Roosevelt, bully was an adjective meaning “excellent” or “first-rate”—not today's familiar noun bully referring to an abusive meanie. Roosevelt understood the modern presidency’s power of persuasion and recognized that it gave the incumbent the opportunity to exhort, instruct, or inspire. He took full advantage of his bully pulpit, speaking out about the danger of monopolies, the nation’s growing role as a world power, and other issues important to him. Since the 1960s, bully pulpit has been used as a term for a public position—especially a political office—that provides one with the opportunity to widely share one’s views.

Examples of bully pulpit in a Sentence

She uses her position as a famous actress as a bully pulpit.

Recent Examples on the Web

The conservative House Freedom Caucus then called for Green to be stripped of his committee assignments, potentially taking away a key bully pulpit and vehicle for influencing legislation. —Andy Rose, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025

Now, in his second term, Trump is again using the bully pulpit of the presidency to spread false claims – for example, on Ukraine and Canada as well as immigration, inflation and, still, the 2020 election. —Seth Ashley, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025

Fashion has always been political, but never more so than when coupled with the towering bully pulpit of the U.S. presidency. —Alexander Nazaryan, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025

In his role, he is empowered to investigate citizen complaints, sponsor legislation and use the bully pulpit of his office to push for change. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

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