sneerocracy

English

Etymology

sneer +‎ -ocracy.

Noun

sneerocracy (uncountable)

1. (UK, derogatory) Openly critical and condescending people viewed collectively.
   • 2002 December 5, Mark Lawson, “The fall and rise of Jamie”, in The Guardian:

     While the media sneerocracy only came round to Oliver because of his pro bono project, the huge number of people buying his books and wheeling their Sainsbury's trolleys in his wake had already responded to his charisma.

   • 2010 December 1, “Actually, Lembit's in the swim”, in Belfast Telegraph:

     The sneerocracy, however, are appalled to even countenance that such an uncool character could attract any woman.

   • 2011, Melanie Phillips, "The election of Australia's new PM Tony Abbott is clear evidence that genuine conservative policies can win elections", Daily Mail, 8 September 2013:

     Only the Cameroons, paralysed as they are by the fashionable prejudices aired at metropolitan dinner tables and the terror of getting on the wrong side of the BBC sneerocracy.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:sneerocracy.