First Known Use: 1868
Dictionary
carpetbagger
noun car·pet·bag·ger \-ˌba-gər\
: a person from the northern United States who went to the South after the American Civil War to make money
: a political candidate who runs for office in a place where he or she has lived only for a short time
Full Definition of CARPETBAGGER
1
: a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments
2
: outsider; especially : a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics
— car·pet·bag·gery \-ˌba-g(ə-)rē\ noun
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Origin of CARPETBAGGER
from their carrying all their belongings in carpetbags
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Rhymes with CARPETBAGGER
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