Skip to main content

apparatchik 

A person who is a cog in the wheel of a large, powerful organization, whether that organization is a government or a government-favored corporation.
"The choice between the American and Canadian healthcare models is simply a choice between different two different flavours of statism – each with somewhat different vices, it’s true (e.g., do you prefer higher prices or longer waits?), but ultimately coming down to a matter of the percentage to which control of your healthcare is exercised by people sitting in government offices as opposed to being exercised by people sitting in governmentally-privileged 'private' offices – but in either case by ambitious, avaricious apparatchiks who aren’t you."
apparatchik by MrApparatchik September 15, 2011
Urban Dictionary Merch
Your favorite words on things you can wear, drink from, read, or give to a friend.
The Urban Dictionary Store sells gifts you’ll have to explain.

apparatchik 

An unquestioningly loyal female subordinate in the Democratic Party.
Susan McDougal and Monica Lewinsky were apparatchiks, one went down for a crime the other went down.
apparatchik by harry flashman July 19, 2003
Related Words

apparatchik 

Polly repeats everything the boss says trying to suck up...she's apparatchik.
apparatchik by nilpferd August 7, 2003

apparatchik 

An apparently rodentlike woman.
The Senator from New York was an apparatchik when it came to campaign money, she could smell it, ferret it out, hoard it, consume it and spend it, leaving only droppings as evidence it ever was.
apparatchik by megnao flimpis August 3, 2003

aparatchik 

An aparatchik is someone who enters a pre-existing human hierarchy (like a corporation, a government or an online Forum) purely for egotistical reasons of his/her own. In other words, they have no sympathy or interest in THE ORIGINAL TOPIC OR CAUSE for which the corporation, government or forum was created; rather, they simply see the hierarchy as a ladder by which they can cynically achieve their own selfish aims (money, power, visibility, etc.)
The city politics of Finetown used to be so interesting, as its founders were passionate crusaders who truly wanted to create a utopia; today, however, Finetown's council is filled with bored aparatchiks who just seek to get ahead and make money without accomplishing anything.
aparatchik by david lincoln brooks January 25, 2009
More from Urban Dictionary
British slang for a scientist or technical expert, esp . when the speaker is not certain of the expert’s specific field of study. Not necessarily derogatory, but typically used by persons without a technical background. In the US, the equivalent would be “egghead”, “squint”, or “geek.”

Origin of the word is unknown. Started sometime in World War 2. Given the typical evolution of British slang, could easily have started because what these experts did was confusing or “baffling” to the common person.
According to the boffins downstairs, the murderer used a serrated blade.
Boffin by Agnon February 11, 2023
Word of the Day on October 3, 2026

Pee Calculus

When you have to pee in a movie but don’t want to miss anything, and must do the following mental equation: will the amount I have to pee cause enough discomfort to diminish my attention capacity for the remainder of the movie to an extent which is greater than the amount of the movie I would miss by making a mad dash to the restroom.
I saw Satantango last night, wonderful film but by the 5th hour I had to start doing pee calculus.
Pee Calculus by anorlondo October 1, 2026
Word of the Day on October 2, 2026
Literally "dirty" pronounced with a West Indian accent. Can also have a positive connotation, for example Sean Paul's album title "Dutty Rock".
"The girl is pretty but she corrupt and dutty!"

or, in a positive usage:

"Booya! That freestyle was dutty!"
Dutty by J Hall April 3, 2003
Word of the Day on October 1, 2026
Load more