nomenklatura
Pronunciation: /nɒˌmɛnkləˈtjʊərə/
noun
- (in the former Soviet Union) the system whereby influential posts in government and industry were filled by Party appointees: the system of nomenklatura, which reserves important appointments to the Party apparatus
- those people appointed to posts in government or industry under the nomenklatura system: most of the caviar was kept for the nomenklatura
Origin:
Russian, from Latin nomenclatura (see nomenclature)