1. a corrupt politician or political schemer
Usage: archaic; US historical
2. a member of a Chinese-American criminal organization
Usage: historical; offensive

Examples

• The newspaper exposed the highbinder’s illegal dealings with city contracts.
• Reform movements in the early 1900s targeted political highbinders.
• The detective investigated the activities of local highbinders.
• Citizens demanded an end to the corruption of municipal highbinders.
• Historical records document the influence of highbinders in Tammany Hall.