Define Carpetbagger

Someone who tries to be elected as a politician in a place away from their home because they.

Define carpetbagger. 2003 2012 princeton university farlex inc. The term carpetbagger used exclusively as a pejorative term originated from the carpet bags a form of cheap luggage made from carpet fabric which many of these newcomers carried. Carpetbagger definition is a northerner in the south after the american civil war usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments. A politician who takes up residence in a place and runs for office without having strong ties to the area.

After the civil war the carpetbaggers from the north tried to take over the south opportunist self seeker a person who places expediency above principle based on wordnet 3 0 farlex clipart collection. Countable noun if you call someone a carpetbagger you disapprove of them because they are trying to become a politician in an area which is not their home simply because they think they are more likely to succeed there.