noun
- a person who seeks or receives political appointments based on party loyalty rather than merit
Usage: political term; often used critically
Examples
- The senator was criticized for being a spoilsman who rewarded campaign supporters with government jobs.
- Reform movements sought to eliminate spoilsmen from the civil service system.
- He was known as a spoilsman who distributed positions to party faithful.
- The spoilsman system was gradually replaced by merit-based hiring.
- Critics argued that spoilsmen were more interested in political rewards than public service.
- The new administration promised to reduce the influence of spoilsmen in government.