A cronya very close friend, especially one who joins your plans and activities is a close friend, especially one who often spends time with someone and goes along with their plans or activities. In everyday use, the word can sound slightly informalused in casual speech or writing, not formal language or sometimes negativeshowing disapproval or an unfavorable feeling.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈkroʊni/
Easy pronunciation: KROH-nee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: KROH-nee.
This uses the noun sense meaning a close friend or companion.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Crony Meaning
a close friend or companion
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A close friend who regularly spends time with someone and takes part in their activities.
Example: He went to the game with a few old cronies from college.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- buddy — A natural close-friend substitute in everyday English.
- chum — A close friend; somewhat informal.
- pal — A very common informal word for a friend.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Crony
Meaning 2
a companion who tags along
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A close companion or sidekick who follows someone around or joins them in their activities.
Example: The captain always traveled with the same loyal sidekick.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- sidekick — Works when the sense is a loyal companion who accompanies someone.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Crony Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- buddy
- chum
- pal
a companion who tags along
- sidekick
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes confuse crony with the phrase 'cronyism,' which means favoritism toward friends in politics or business.
- Do not use crony as a formal synonym for colleague or coworker.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does crony mean in simple English?
A crony is a close friend or companion, usually someone who often joins in with your plans or activities.
What are good synonyms for crony?
Good everyday synonyms include buddy, chum, and pal. Sidekick fits only in the companion sense.
Is crony a positive word?
It can be neutral, but it often has a slightly negative feel, especially when it suggests someone who follows along too closely.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-18. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
