:For the record label, see Crony Records Cronyism's partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism's contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy. Cronyism exists when the appointer and the beneficiary are in social contact; often, the appointer's inadequate to hold his or her own job or position of authority, and for this reason the appointer appoints individuals who won't try to weaken him o… (More on Cronyism)