crony

noun

cro·​ny ˈkrō-nē 

plural cronies

: a close friend usually of long standing : pal

played golf with his cronies

often, specifically : a person who unfairly receives special treatment see also cronyism, crony capitalism

Synonyms of crony

• associate
• colleague
• buddy
• friend
• accomplice
• peer
• comrade

Examples of crony in a Sentence

The mayor rewarded his cronies with high-paying jobs after he was elected.

the criminal's cronies were also closely questioned about the illegal gambling operation

Recent Examples on the Web

This man and his cronies are almost singlehandedly destroying America. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026

What’s a worse sin/crime — declaring an obvious murder a suicide to protect a perverted crony? —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026

Republican presidents have displayed a decades-long tendency to fill the top spot with political cronies or pro-business activists masquerading as worker advocates, or worse. —Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026

Magyar has called for all of Orbán’s cronies in the government to resign and has committed to holding to account those who plundered Hungary. —Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Greek chronios long-lasting, from chronos time

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing crony

• crony capitalism

Rhymes for crony

• boney
• boni
• bony
• coney
• monie
• mony
• phoney
• phony
• stoney
• stony
• toney
• tony

Kids Definition

crony

noun

cro·​ny ˈkrō-nē 

plural cronies

: a close companion : pal

politicians who get jobs for their cronies