Word of the Day: SNOLLYGOSTERPronunciation:US/ˈsnɒliˌɡɒstər/ or UK/ˈsnɒlɪˌɡɒstə/

Meaning:
A snollygoster is a person, especially a politician, who is clever and unscrupulous.

It describes someone who acts solely for their own personal gain or political advantage rather than being guided by consistent principles or a sense of duty.

Example for daily usage:
"The veteran diplomat warned that the new candidate was a mere snollygoster, willing to flip-flop on every major issue just to climb the polls."

"While he presented himself as a man of the people, his backroom deals revealed him to be a calculating snollygoster."

Origin and history:
The word is a distinctively American coinage, first appearing in the mid-19th century (roughly the 1840s). Its exact etymology is debated, but many linguists believe it is a humorous corruption of the German word schnelle Geister (quick spirits). It gained widespread fame during the 1952 U.S. Presidential election when President Harry S. Truman used it to describe "shyster" politicians.

Also read | Word of the Day, April 27: 'Reticent'

Cultural significance and modern usage:
While it fell into "obsolete" status in some dictionaries in the late 20th century, the word saw a massive resurgence in the 2010s and 2020s. It is now used as a colorful, slightly archaic insult for political opportunism. It carries a tone of "mischievous villainy" rather than pure evil-suggesting someone who is "shrewd" but untrustworthy.

Interesting facts:

1. Dictionary Resurrection: In 2017, Merriam-Webster officially reinstated "snollygoster" to its dictionary after it had been dropped in 2003 for lack of use; the political climate of the late 2010s brought it back into the mainstream.
2. The "Snollygoster" Bird: In some Southern US folklore, a "snollygoster" was a mythical bird-like creature that preyed on poultry-a fitting metaphor for a politician "preying" on voters.