What does jobbery mean?
Jobbery means dishonest or corrupt behaviour, especially the misuse of a public office for private gain. It commonly refers to bribery, the award of favours for money, or other improper dealings involving government officials, politicians, contractors, and public institutions. Because the word presents an entire practice or pattern rather than merely one dishonest act, phrases such as systematic jobbery and investigating jobbery are common in political and journalistic discussion. Jobbery is strongly condemnatory and generally implies conduct that is both unethical and, often, illegal. Although it can occur in business or private organisations, its strongest and most familiar application is to corruption within public life. The word is a relatively formal term, encountered in news reports, political debate, legal commentary, and historical discussion. It should be reserved for serious misconduct, since describing ordinary workplace disputes or minor favouritism as jobbery would be misleading and disproportionate.
nounThe corrupt practice of using a public or official position for personal gain, especially by accepting bribes or other improper payments. The term is used particularly for dishonest or illegal conduct by politicians, civil servants, and other officials.
- Corrupt or dishonest conduct involving the misuse of an official position for personal benefit, especially through bribery.
"The investigation uncovered systematic jobbery in the awarding of public contracts."
"The newspaper alleged that decades of jobbery had distorted the allocation of government contracts."
"Her account of jobbery in the licensing office prompted an official inquiry."
The plural is possible but uncommon in ordinary use.
"Historians have documented episodes of jobbery in several nineteenth-century administrations."
Jobbery turns public service into private enterprise: the word names the moment public office is used as a personal cash register.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jobbery come from?
Jobbery was formed in the 19th century by combining job with the suffix -ery, a word-forming element that can indicate a place, activity, or collection associated with a particular occupation. Its early sense concerned the corruption of political or public life, with job meaning an official position or public office. Modern usage retains that association with dishonest conduct within official and institutional roles.
How jobbery is actually used
The term is especially associated with political and governmental corruption. It is strongly critical and is usually reserved for established or alleged dishonest conduct rather than ordinary political patronage or inefficiency.
Easily confused with jobbery
Jobbery names corrupt practice as a system or pattern, whereas graft can refer either to that practice or to the specific dishonest acquisition of money or property.