Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
carpetbagger
noun
/ˈkɑːrpɪtbæɡər/
Definition
A person from the northern states who went to the South after the Civil War to take advantage of the economic and political situation.
Examples
- After the war, many carpetbaggers moved to the South to invest in land.
- He was often criticized as a carpetbagger by locals who felt he was taking advantage of the situation.
Meaning
Typically used to refer to outsiders who seek to exploit local conditions for their own gain.
Synonyms
- Exploiter
- Interloper
- Opportunist
