quid pro quo

noun

ˌkwid-ˌprō-ˈkwō How to pronounce quid pro quo (audio)
Definition of quid pro quonext
as in exchange
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another in politics nobody does something for nothing: there's always a quid pro quo involved

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of quid pro quo The Louisiana Supreme Court said there was no evidence the payment was a quid pro quo, but concluded Reeves’ decision to accept the money created the appearance that people willing to pay could receive favorable treatment. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Calvin Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, said in this case, the quid pro quo is likely broken as Griffith had no way of knowing whether the recipients of the pastries actually went out and voted. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026 So, in somewhat of a quid pro quo, FIFA awarded the United States hosting rights to the 1994 World Cup Finals on the back of America's promise to create a new top-tier domestic league. — Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 14 June 2026 Room for Disagreement In an email to Semafor, Patrick Lee Plaisance, a professor in ethics at Penn State, told Semafor that Kristof’s quotes of various campaign donors did not necessitate disclosure, noting that there was no quid pro quo for coverage, regardless of the Times’ disclosure promise. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for quid pro quo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quid pro quo
exchange
Noun
  • In January 2015, Shirley agreed to a plea deal in exchange for testifying against the Leonard brothers.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • The resulting arguments, trolling and nasty exchanges can signal to the algorithm that the content is engaging, prompting it to show those posts to even more people who are likely to react and further amplify the conversation.
    — Larry Magid, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
Definition of exchange

Browse Nearby Words

quidnuncs
quid pro quo
quid pro quos
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Cite this Entry

“Quid pro quo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quid%20pro%20quo. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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