oppo research

English

Etymology

Clipping of opposition research.

Noun

oppo research (uncountable)

1. (US, politics, informal) Research into one's opponent's family, friends, and past, which aims to uncover activities or interests which embarrass or discredit them.
   • 2017, Howard Blum, “How ex-spy Christopher Steele compiled his explosive Trump-Russia dossier”, in Vanity Fair:

     And anyway, after all he had discovered, he’d grown deeply concerned by the prospect of a Trump presidency. So he found Democratic donors whose checks would keep his oppo research going strong.