slush fund

noun

1
: a fund raised from the sale of refuse to obtain small luxuries or pleasures for a warship's crew
2
: a fund for bribing public officials or carrying on corruptive propaganda
3
: an unregulated fund often used for illicit purposes

Examples of slush fund in a Sentence

a secret slush fund for paying bribes
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.
Those funds went to the chancellor’s office, part of a slush fund that paid for lavish dinners at the chancellor’s La Jolla mansion, unnecessary travel and other wastes. U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025 The Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), originally established to revitalize our city, has long outlived its purpose, devolving instead into a slush fund that favors private interests over the needs of taxpayers. Audrey Fesik, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025 Unfortunately, politicians can take advantage of the resulting slush funds for projects that have nothing to do with fighting blight. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025 Republican opposition to the Toxic Exposure Fund largely centers around their claims that the pot of money, created after passage of the 2022 PACT Act, is a slush fund for the VA with little oversight. Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slush fund

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of slush fund was in 1839

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slush fund.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slush%20fund. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on slush fund

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!