demagogue

American  

[dem-uh-gog, -gawg] / ˈdɛm əˌgɒg, -ˌgɔg /

Or demagog

noun

• demagogues
  plural

1. a person, especially an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people.

2. (in ancient times) a leader of the people.

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verb (used with object)

demagogued, demagoguing

1. to treat or manipulate (a political issue) in the manner of a demagogue; obscure or distort with emotionalism, prejudice, etc.

verb (used without object)

demagogued, demagoguing

1. to speak or act like a demagogue.

demagogue British  

/ ˈdɛməˌɡɒɡ /

noun

1. a political agitator who appeals with crude oratory to the prejudice and passions of the mob

2. (esp in the ancient world) any popular political leader or orator

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demagogue Cultural  

1. A politician who seeks to win and hold office by appeals to mass prejudice. Demagogues often use lies and distortion. (See Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• demagogues
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of demagogue

1640–50; < Greek dēmagōgós a leader of the people, popular leader, equivalent to dêm ( os ) people + agōgós leading, guiding; see -agogue

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Explanation

A demagogue is someone who becomes a leader largely because of skills as a speaker or who appeals to emotions and prejudices. Though the Greek root for demagogue literally means "a leader of the people," the word has for centuries had a negative connotation: it actually means a leader who has manipulated the emotions and prejudices of the rabble. The reason for the negative connotation is that in ancient Athens, "the people" were considered to be an uncivilized mob. Two of the most famous historical demagogues are said to be Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demagogue demagogues demagogued demagoguing

The power struggles within a contentious Indian family feed the rise of a demagogue.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026

But he also turned on his vice-president, reposting a comment on X in which she was labelled a "traitor, a demagogue and stupid in economic terms".

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2025

The mightiest of Vought’s ultra-marketed superstars, Homelander, played by Antony Starr, is believed by many in the world of “The Boys” to be America’s greatest hero; in reality, he’s an oversensitive, egotistical demagogue.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2025

Watson was an effective demagogue because he practiced a politics of anger in an era that demanded it.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2024

These, and some other like occurrences in his life, have led candid observers to regard Sir Francis Burdett as something of a demagogue.

From Sketches of Reforms and Reformers, of Great Britain and Ireland by Henry B. Stanton

Egged on by demagogues, Thucydides narrates, Athens embarked on a war of choice—the Sicilian expedition, the disastrous failure of which contributed to Athens’s eventual defeat in the Peloponnesian War.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

He said the corporation was "the best defence of truth and trust against the lies of dictators and demagogues".

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2025

That democracy can degenerate into tyranny through freely elected demagogues is an abiding paradox.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2023

These mutations, Proust warned, turn the blessed and the damned into caricatures easily manipulated by demagogues and the mob.

From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2022

Atticus Finch was right when he said the only good the University did Henry was let him make friends with Alabama’s future politicians, demagogues, and statesmen.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee

At the same time, only a week ago, President Obama had praised Ryan as a "pretty sincere guy" and seemed to suggest Ryan's idea shouldn't be demagogued as "trying to hurt our senior citizens."

From Washington Post ● Feb. 5, 2010

Perhaps directness is what’s required for an issue that cries out for more listening and less demagoguing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2022

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Related Words

• agitator
• firebrand

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