Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
pork-barrel
noun
/ˈpɔːrkˌbɛr.əl/
Definition
Pork-barrel refers to government spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support, often seen as wasteful or unnecessary.
Examples
- The senator secured millions of dollars in pork-barrel funding for his home district.
- Critics argue that pork-barrel spending diverts money from essential services.
- During the election, promises of pork-barrel projects were made to gain the votes of local citizens.
Meaning
The term is used to describe projects that secure funds for a specific area, often to win favor with voters without regard to need or efficiency.
Synonyms
- government waste
- earmark
- subsidy
- project funding
