sinecures
Jobs without duties
Sinecures are positions that provide payment or prestige with little or no actual work required.
The term comes from Latin meaning "without care"—a job without responsibilities.
Originally applied to church positions with income but no pastoral duties, it now describes any cushy appointment: The ambassadorship was a sinecure for major donors.
The word usually carries a whiff of criticism, implying the holder is undeserving or the position wasteful.
Exceeding what's needed
- superfluousExceeding what suffices
- unnecessaryNot essential or required
- nominalIn designation only
- titularIn title only
ceremonial · honorary · symbolic · figurehead · rubber stamp · paper pusher · dead weight · featherbedding
Preferring kin in hiring
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- appointmentsScheduled times for meetings
- connectionsRelationships between things
benefice · stipend · emolument · pensioner · courtier · placement · preferment · influence
Endowed clerical position
- rectoryClergy dwelling near church
- vicarageClergy residence
- livingCurrently having breath
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
parsonage · endowment · tithe · parish · cathedral · chapter · canonry · deanery
Dishonest abuse of power
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- meritocracyAdvancement through demonstrated ability
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- transparencyState of being see-through
abuse · scandal · expose · watchdog · audit · oversight · abolition · justified
redundant
Exceeding what's needed
- superfluousExceeding what suffices
- unnecessaryNot essential or required
- nominalIn designation only
titular · ceremonial · honorary · symbolic · figurehead · rubber stamp · paper pusher · dead weight · featherbedding · overstaffing
nepotism
Preferring kin in hiring
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- favoritismPreferential treatment of some
- appointmentsScheduled times for meetings
connections · benefice · stipend · emolument · pensioner · courtier · placement · preferment · influence · aristocracy
benefice
Endowed clerical position
clergy · parsonage · endowment · tithe · parish · cathedral · chapter · canonry · deanery · bishopric
corruption
Dishonest abuse of power
- reformImprove by correcting faults
- meritocracyAdvancement through demonstrated ability
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
transparency · abuse · scandal · expose · watchdog · audit · oversight · abolition · justified · earned
- Spoils Systemspoils system, political patronage, patronage, cronyism, favoritism
- patronagepolitical patronage, patrons, benefactors, sponsors, donors
sinecureshard labor
Strenuous punitive work
backbreaking work · toil · sweatshop labor · drudgery · slave labor