noun
pork
Government spending directed to local or special political interests.
Critics call the senator’s pet project a wasteful piece of pork.
Etymology
Pork shortens pork barrel in the political expression. It compares public funds directed to favored local interests with a supply of provisions distributed for particular recipients’ benefit.
More examples
- The spending bill contains pork for several politically important districts.
- She promises to cut pork from the federal budget.
- Supporters call the new highway essential, but opponents call it pork.
Forms
pork
Similar words
- earmark
- Funding reserved for a specific purpose, not necessarily political.
- patronage
- Political favors that include jobs and contracts, not just spending.