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  1. quango love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. An organization or agency that is financed by a government but that acts independently of it.

Wiktionary

  1. n. UK An organization that, although financed by a government, acts independently of it.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. a quasi nongovernmental organization; an organization that is financed by the government yet acts independently of the government

Etymologies

  1. From the initial letters (the first two letters for the first word) of "quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization" (Wiktionary)
  2. qua(si) n(on-)g(overnmental) o(rganization). (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

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hypernyms (2)

Words that are more generic or abstract

  1. organization
  1. organisation

same context (5)

Words that are found in similar contexts

  1. gimmickry
  1. wish-fulfillment
  1. boondoggle
  1. ye
  1. chitchat

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Lists

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  • bilby "The authors of the report say politicians from all parties have called for cuts in the numbers and influence of quangos, but they have continued to flourish. Quangos are bodies which are charged by the government, and paid by it, to perform a certain role.
    They vary greatly in the way they are set up and in roles they perform but have two key aspects - they are not under direct control from ministers and the people who work for them are not civil servants. They have been criticised by politicians from all sides at various times because of their cost, their number, or for an alleged lack of accountability."
    - Angela Harrison, Call for quango cull in education, bbc.co.uk, 12 August 2009. Aug 13, 2009

  • hernesheir 1/16/09 UK Telegraph headline: "Spending by quangos on PR up a quarter despite looming economic downturn" Jan 16, 2009

  • chained_bear ... or the freaks in my office. Jan 5, 2009

  • sionnach Naw, SoG; according to Weirdnet's second definition, it's just a group of people who work together.
    Like a quilting bee. Or a soccer team. A band of pirates. The corps de ballet at the Bolshoi. A highly trained special forces unit of vicious assassins. Your local Applebee's crew. Jan 3, 2009

  • sonofgroucho I believe this is short for "quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation". Feb 17, 2007

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‘quango’ has been looked up 3078 times, loved by 1 person, added to 30 lists, commented on 5 times, and has a Scrabble score of 16.