quango

views updated Jun 08 2018

quango (Acronym for quasi-autonomous non-Governmental organization) Any of a number of bureaux set up in Britain with government funds. They are responsible for regulating or monitoring various aspects of industrial, political, financial and social welfare. They are not directly elected, but issue reports periodically on their operational findings. There is much public debate about these bodies, resulting from their expense and lack of accountability.

World Encyclopedia

quango

views updated May 29 2018

quango chiefly derogatory term for a semi-public administrative body outside the civil service but with financial support from and senior appointments made by the government. Recorded from the 1970s, the term is an acronym from quasi (or quasi-autonomous) non-government(al) organization.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

quango

views updated May 29 2018

quango (ˈkwæŋgəʊ) quasi-autonomous nongovernmental (or national government) organization

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH