quango
noun/ˈkwæŋɡəʊ/
/ˈkwæŋɡəʊ/
(plural quangos)
(often disapproving)- (in the UK) an organization dealing with public matters, started by the government, but working independently and with its own legal powers
- The government appoints hundreds of people to voluntary bodies, quangos and committees of all kinds.
CultureExamples of quangos are the Arts Councils and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. (The word 'quango' comes from the first letters of 'quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization'.)Word Origin1970s (originally US): acronym from quasi (or quasi-autonomous) non-government(al) organization.Definitions on the go
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quango