carpetbagger

noun

car·​pet·​bag·​ger ˈkär-pət-ˌba-gər How to pronounce carpetbagger (audio)
plural carpetbaggers
1
disapproving : a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the Reconstruction governments
2
disapproving : outsider
especially : a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics
carpetbaggery noun

Examples of carpetbagger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, Boebert, despite being called a carpetbagger for switching to the 4th District, defeated five opponents in the GOP primary, winning three times as many votes as the next-closest candidate. Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2024 Casey has billed his opponent as an out-of-touch carpetbagger, hammering McCormick over his previous Connecticut residency. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024 The two Democrats don’t like each other, and Newton dismisses Gaston as an inexperienced newcomer and carpetbagger who did not move to Bridgeport until 2014. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2024 In explaining why so many candidates are trying to make the carpetbagger label stick this year, some analysts point to the success that now-Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) enjoyed in 2022 in his race against celebrity physician Mehmet Oz. Mariana Alfaro, Washington Post, 1 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for carpetbagger 

Word History

Etymology

from their carrying all their belongings in carpetbags

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of carpetbagger was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near carpetbagger

Cite this Entry

“Carpetbagger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carpetbagger. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

carpetbagger

noun
car·​pet·​bag·​ger ˈkär-pət-ˌbag-ər How to pronounce carpetbagger (audio)
: a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments

More from Merriam-Webster on carpetbagger

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!