Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 29, 2023 is: bully pulpit \BULL-ee-PULL-pit\ noun

Bully pulpit refers to an important public position that allows a person to express beliefs and opinions to many people.

// She uses her position as a famous actress as a bully pulpit to advocate for human rights.

[See the entry >](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bully%20pulpit)

Examples:

“If you are a politician, you can respond to public protesters in a variety of ways. You can avoid getting too close to them. You can ignore them. You can use your bully pulpit to address their concerns from a position of strength. What you probably should not do is physically tussle with them or taunt them with childish facial gestures.” — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 8 June 2023

Did you know?

Bully pulpit comes from the 26th U.S. president, [Theodore Roosevelt](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Theodore-Roosevelt), who observed that his time in office at the White House was a bully [pulpit](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pulpit) when he said, “I suppose my critics will call that preaching, but I have got such a bully pulpit!” For Roosevelt, [bully](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bully#h3) was an adjective meaning “excellent” or “first-rate”—not today's familiar noun bully referring to an abusive meanie. Roosevelt understood the modern presidency’s power of persuasion and recognized that it gave the incumbent the opportunity to [exhort](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhort), instruct, or inspire. He took full advantage of his bully pulpit, speaking out about the danger of [monopolies](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monopoly), the nation’s growing role as a world power, and other issues important to him. Since the 1960s, bully pulpit has been used as a term for a public position—especially a political office—that provides one with the opportunity to widely share one’s views.