| Machiavellian | a. [ From Machiavel (also called Machiavelli), an Italian writer, secretary and historiographer to the republic of Florence. ] Of or pertaining to Machiavelli, or to his supposed principles for conduct of government, as enunciated in his tract The Prince; politically cunning; characterized by duplicity, political expediency, unscrupulous cunning, or bad faith; crafty. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ] Variants: Machiavelian |