Definition

A person from the North who moved to the South after the Civil War, often for personal gain, especially in politics or business.

Example

Many carpetbaggers moved to the South during the Reconstruction era to take advantage of the changing political landscape.

Conversation

Have you ever heard the term carpetbagger?

Yeah, I think it refers to someone who moves to a new place for personal gain, right?

Exactly! It was especially used after the Civil War.

Right, those people were often seen as outsiders trying to take advantage of the situation.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Carpetbagger is formed from "carpet" (from Middle English *carpette*, meaning a small rug or covering) and "bagger" (from the word "bag", meaning a person who carries or uses a bag). The term originally referred to a person who carried a carpet bag, often used to describe opportunistic individuals who traveled to the South during Reconstruction in the United States.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who carries a 'carpet' in a 'bag' — this helps you remember that a carpetbagger is someone who travels with their belongings, often for opportunistic reasons.

Visually Confused Words