Democrat in Name Only

Democrat In Name Only (DINO) is a disparaging term for a member of the United States Democratic Party. A DINO is considered to be more conservative (fiscally and/or socially) than fellow Democrats.

The term was created as an analogous opposite to RINO (Republican In Name Only), which refers to more liberal members of the US Republican Party.

"DINO" is used by more ideological (politically speaking) members of the Democrats to counter fellow party members for their heterodox, or relatively moderate or conservative positions. Likewise, the term RINO is typically given to Republican members who espouse more "middle of the road" positions or who espouse more liberal positions.

Dixiecrats were conservative Democrats in the South during the segregation years. Some Dixiecrats switched to the Republican Party, became independents or retired from politics. Others remained Democrats, but positioned themselves to the "right" of other party members.