- Today's Word
Mugwump
[MUG-wuhmp]
Definition
- (noun) A person who remains independent or neutral, especially in politics. It can refer to someone who is unable to make up their mind on an issue, or who refuses to align with any particular group or party.
Example
Despite pressure from both sides, Senator Johnson remained a mugwump on the controversial bill, refusing to commit to either a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote.
Fun Fact
The term “mugwump” comes from the Algonquian word “mugquomp,” meaning “important person” or “war leader.” It entered American political slang in 1884, when it was used to describe Republicans who refused to support their party’s presidential nominee, James G. Blaine, instead crossing party lines to support the Democratic candidate, Grover Cleveland. These Republicans were sarcastically called “mugwumps,” implying they thought themselves too important to follow party lines. Over time, the term has evolved to describe any political fence-sitter or independent thinker.
(noun) A form of irony in which a person pretends to refuse or show disinterest in something they actually desire
His accismus was obvious to everyone at the table — he waved off the dessert menu three times before finally ordering the chocolate cake.
Accismus comes directly from the Greek akkismos, meaning “prudery” or “affectation,” derived from Akkō, the name of a foolish woman in Greek legend known for her coy, affected behavior. It entered English as a formal rhetorical term, classified among the figures of speech used in classical oratory and persuasion.