Machiavellian
or Mach·i·a·vel·i·an
[ mak-ee-uh-vel-ee-uh n ]
/ ˌmæk i əˈvɛl i ən /
adjective
of, like, or befitting Machiavelli.
being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli's The Prince, in which political expediency is placed above morality and the use of craft and deceit to maintain the authority and carry out the policies of a ruler is described.
characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty: He resorted to Machiavellian tactics in order to get ahead.
noun
a follower of the principles analyzed or described in The Prince, especially with reference to techniques of political manipulation.
Origin of Machiavellian
First recorded in 1560–70;
Machiavelli +
-an
OTHER WORDS FROM Machiavellian
Mach·i·a·vel·li·an·ism, Mach·i·a·vel·lism, noun Mach·i·a·vel·li·an·ly, adverbExample sentences from the Web for machiavelian
British Dictionary definitions for machiavelian
Machiavellian
Machiavelian
/ (ˌmækɪəˈvɛlɪən) /
adjective (sometimes not capital)
of or relating to the alleged political principles of Machiavelli; cunning, amoral, and opportunist
noun
a cunning, amoral, and opportunist person, esp a politician