sweetheartsweet·heart /ˈswiːthɑːt-hɑːrt/ adjectiveadj [only before a noun] a sweetheart deal, contract, agreement etc is unfair because it gives people who know each other well or have a lot of influence an unfair advantageSome executives have been taking kickbacks from suppliers and accepting sweetheart deals.
Critics say prosecutors gave him asweetheart sentence (=a very short one) in return for evidence against his partner.