Graft, as understood in American English, is a form of political corruption defined as the unscrupulous use of a politician's authority for personal gain.
Political graft occurs when funds intended for public projects are intentionally misdirected in order to maximize the benefits to private interests.
Political graft functions when the public officer is directed to purchase goods or services from a specific private interest at a cost far above regular market rates.
Although the conflict between public and private interests is common to all forms of corruption, the term "graft" is specific to the intentional misdirection of official funds.
[citation needed] George W. Plunkitt coined the term "honest graft" ("I seen my opportunities and I took em.