Pork Barrel Definition

noun
Government appropriations for political patronage, as for local improvements to please legislators' constituents.
Webster's New World

(now rare) A barrel used to store pork. [from 18th c.]

Wiktionary

(chiefly US) A ready supply of income; one's livelihood. [from 19th c.]

Wiktionary

(politics, chiefly US) State funds as assigned for local or regional expenditure; especially, central money used for regional projects which are eyecatching or designed to appeal to voters. [from 19th c.]

Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Pork Barrel

Noun

Singular:
pork barrel
Plural:
pork-barrels

Origin of Pork Barrel

  • From pork barrel barrel for storing pork, supply of money

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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pork barrel