carpetbagger

noun

car·​pet·​bag·​ger ˈkär-pət-ˌba-gər 

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

ˈkär-pət-ˌba-g(ə-)rē 

noun

Examples of carpetbagger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Word History

Etymology

from their carrying all their belongings in carpetbags

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

carpetbagger

noun

car·​pet·​bag·​ger ˈkär-pət-ˌbag-ər 

: a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments