Merriam - Webster Word of the day : bully pulpit

bully pulpit




noun
: a prominent public position (such as a political office) that provides an opportunity for expounding one's views

also : such an opportunity

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Bully vs Bully Pulpit

Bully pulpit comes from the 26th U.S. president, Theodore Roosevelt, who observed that his time in office at the White House was a bully pulpit when he said, “I suppose my critics will call that preaching, but I have got such a bully pulpit!” For Roosevelt, bully was an adjective meaning “excellent” or “first-rate”—

not today's familiar noun bully referring to an abusive meanie. Roosevelt understood the modern presidency’s power of persuasion and recognized that it gave the incumbent the opportunity to exhort, instruct, or inspire. He took full advantage of his bully pulpit, speaking out about the danger of monopolies, the nation’s growing role as a world power, and other issues important to him. 

Since the 1960s, bully pulpit has been used as a term for a public position—especially a political office—that provides one with the opportunity to widely share one’s views.

Example Sentences


She uses her position as a famous actress as a bully pulpit.
Recent Examples on the Web Now, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Lithuanian officials are turning their particular geopolitical perch into a bully pulpit. —

Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 11 July 2023 The hearing, though, was a showcase of how congressional opposition may only do so much, beyond providing a bully pulpit for grievances, since senators could not even agree on whether the proceeding was all that worthwhile. —

 Kevin Draper, New York Times, 11 July 2023 The Biden administration disputes the Republicans' claims, arguing that the communications that the GOP officials uncovered reflect the government using its bully pulpit to promote accurate information in the face of foreign interference in elections and a deadly virus. —

Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 5 July 2023

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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bully pulpit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History


First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of bully pulpit was in 1963



bully pulpit

  


Dictionary Entries Near bully pulpit

bully-off

bully pulpit

bullyrag