soft-money
UK[ˈsɒft ˌmʌni]US[ˈsɔːft ˌmʌni]
adj
Relating to or being money contributed to a political party or campaign that is not subject to federal regulations, as it is not given directly to a specific candidate.
adj
Involving or being a system of funding, especially in politics, where money is raised and spent outside the legal limits that apply to direct contributions.
Morpheme Breakdown
soft
money
soft
yielding
money
currency
Etymology
The term 'soft-money' is a modern political compound, originating in late 20th-century American English to describe a specific campaign finance phenomenon. The adjective 'soft' employs its sense of being pliable or not rigidly defined, contrasting with 'hard money' which refers to funds given directly to candidates and subject to strict federal limits. 'Money' retains its core Latin-derived meaning of a circulating medium of value. Thus, the compound's logic is built on the metaphorical opposition: 'soft' (unregulated, flexible) money versus 'hard' (regulated, firm) money, creating a clear distinction in political fundraising terminology.
Analysis
Structure: soft (yielding) + money (currency)
- soft: From Old English 'sōfte' (agreeable, calm, gentle), of Germanic origin. In this compound, it functions as an adjective meaning 'not hard or strict; flexible, pliable'.
- money: From Middle English 'moneie', from Old French 'monoie', from Latin 'moneta' (mint, money). It functions as a noun meaning 'a medium of exchange; currency'.
Examples
The organization was a major source of soft-money donations for issue advocacy ads.
Critics argue that soft-money contributions undermine campaign finance laws.
The legislation aimed to ban the use of soft-money in federal elections.