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

: a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments

: 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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from their carrying all their belongings in carpetbags

First Known Use: 1868

Next Word in the Dictionary: carpetbaggismPrevious Word in the Dictionary: carpetbag All Words Near: carpetbagger

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