A proper noun referring to Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527), an Italian diplomat, philosopher, and writer famed for political treatises. The name has become associated with political cunning, realpolitik, and strategic manipulation. In pronunciation, it is stressed on the second syllable, reflecting Italian origin and widely used in English contexts with a non-Italianized final vowel. The term is used as a label for opportunistic political behavior as well as a historical figure.
Full pronunciation guide
