muckraker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal; Journalistic; Historical
Quick answer
What does “muckraker” mean?
A person, especially a journalist, who searches for and publicizes real or alleged corruption or scandal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, especially a journalist, who searches for and publicizes real or alleged corruption or scandal.
Historically, a member of a group of American investigative journalists, novelists, and critics in the early 20th century who exposed established institutions and leaders as corrupt. Can be used for any individual who seeks to expose and spread scandalous information, sometimes with a negative connotation of being excessively zealous or sensationalist.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in and is primarily associated with American history and journalism. It is understood in British English but used less frequently and typically in contexts discussing American history or in a more general, international sense.
Connotations
In American English, it has a strong historical resonance (Progressive Era). In British English, it may sound slightly borrowed and is more likely to be used in a purely contemporary, generic sense.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “muckraker” in a Sentence
[journalist] is a muckrakerHe was labelled a muckraker for his relentless investigations.the era of the muckrakersVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “muckraker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was accused of muckraking by the political establishment.
- The paper has a history of muckraking on council corruption.
American English
- She spent her career muckraking against corporate polluters.
- The senator dismissed the article as mere muckraking.
adverb
British English
- The report was written muckrakingly, focusing solely on the failures.
American English
- He wrote muckrakingly about the city's political machine.
adjective
British English
- The muckraking tendency in the press has increased in the digital age.
- He adopted a muckraking approach to his documentary.
American English
- Her muckraking journalism won a Pulitzer Prize.
- The book is a muckraking exposé of the healthcare industry.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically to describe a journalist exposing corporate malfeasance.
Academic
Common in historical and media studies discussing the Progressive Era in the US.
Everyday
Rare; used by informed speakers discussing journalism or politics.
Technical
Not a technical term in most fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “muckraker”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “muckraker”
- Confusing with 'muckracker' (incorrect spelling).
- Using it as a synonym for any critic, without the core sense of investigating and exposing hidden scandal.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is context-dependent. Originally pejorative, it can now be used positively to praise investigative courage or negatively to imply sensationalism and an obsession with scandal.
A muckraker (usually a journalist) actively seeks out and publicizes scandal. A whistleblower is typically an insider who exposes wrongdoing within their own organization, often to a journalist or authority.
The modern sense was popularized by US President Theodore Roosevelt in a 1906 speech, though it derives from John Bunyan's 1678 allegory 'The Pilgrim's Progress'.
Yes, 'to muckrake' is the corresponding verb, meaning to search for and expose scandal, often in a relentless or sensational manner.
A person, especially a journalist, who searches for and publicizes real or alleged corruption or scandal.
Muckraker is usually formal; journalistic; historical in register.
Muckraker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmʌkreɪkə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmʌkˌreɪkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to rake muck (from which 'muckraker' is derived)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a journalist RAKING through the MUCK (dirt/scandal) to find the truth.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOURNALISM IS CLEANING (raking muck to expose the dirty truth).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of a 'muckraker'?