RINO
Government & Politics abbreviation · Political
| Stands for | Republican in name only |
|---|---|
| Categories | Government & Politics |
RINO stands for Republican in name only, a political abbreviation.
Pejorative used by some Republicans for party members they regard as insufficiently conservative or loyal to the party's direction. It appears frequently in primary campaigns and in social media disputes within the party.
Example: The challenger branded the incumbent a RINO for voting for the spending deal.
Usage notes
The term was in use by the early 1990s, and similar phrases existed earlier. Who gets called a RINO has shifted with the party's priorities, from fiscal policy to loyalty to particular leaders. It is pronounced like "rhino", which is why rhinoceros imagery appears in cartoons on the subject.
Related abbreviations
More political abbreviations
- R – Republican (party label)
- RBG – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- RCV – Ranked-choice voting
- Rep. – Representative
- RFK – Robert F. Kennedy
- RGA – Republican Governors Association
- RNC – Republican National Committee
- RV – Registered voters
- S. – Senate (bill prefix)
- S.Con.Res. – Senate Concurrent Resolution
- S.J.Res. – Senate Joint Resolution
- S.Res. – Senate Resolution