crony
/ˈkroʊni/
noun
- A close friend or companion, especially one who shares activities or interests.
- He went fishing with his old crony from college.
- She and her crony started a small business together.
- My dad and his cronies meet every Saturday to play cards.
- A friend or associate who is given special favors, often in a political or business context.
- Critics accused the CEO of hiring only his cronies.
- The scandal involved cronies who received government contracts without bidding.
- The mayor gave his crony a job at city hall.