populism

[pop-yuh-liz-uhm]

noun

1. any of various, often antiestablishment or anti-intellectual political movements or philosophies that offer unorthodox solutions or policies and appeal to the common person rather than according with traditional party or partisan ideologies.

2. grass-roots democracy; working-class activism; egalitarianism.

3. representation or extolling of the common person, the working class, the underdog, etc..

   populism in the arts.

4. (initial capital letter),  the political philosophy of the People's party.

populism

/ ˈpɒpjʊˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a political strategy based on a calculated appeal to the interests or prejudices of ordinary people

populism

1. The belief that greater popular participation in government and business is necessary to protect individuals from exploitation by inflexible bureaucracy and financial conglomerates. “Power to the people” is a famous populist slogan.

Other Word Forms

• anti-populism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of populism¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1890–95; from Latin popul(us) “people” ( people, popular ) + -ism

Example Sentences

They underestimated Mr. Corbyn’s capacity to shift the debate instead toward left-wing populism on economics, and voters’ willingness to be led in that direction.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bontenbal believes Dutch voters are looking now at a return to "what I'll call 'boring politics'. The Netherlands is done with populism".

Read more on BBC

This is already fueling the type of economic resentment that drives populism.

Read more on Barron's

Though they offer different solutions, the populism of both the left and the right is responding to the erosion of the social and economic prerequisites for democracy and the rule of law in this country.

Read more on Salon

As despair and justified rage fuel authoritarian fake populism both here and abroad, Churchill’s words ring painfully true.

Read more on Salon