activism

American  

[ak-tuh-viz-uhm] / ˈæk təˌvɪz əm /

noun

1. the doctrine or practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political or other goals, sometimes by demonstrations, protests, etc.

2. Philosophy.

   1. a theory that the essence of reality is pure activity, especially spiritual activity, or process.

   2. a theory that the relationship between the mind and the objects of perception depends upon the action of the mind.

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activism British  

/ ˈæktɪˌvɪzəm /

noun

1. a policy of taking direct and often militant action to achieve an end, esp a political or social one

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Usage

What does activism mean? Activism is the practice of taking direct action to achieve political or social goals. Activism can involve supporting a particular cause (or range of causes) or opposing it. Activism uses direct (and continued) actions, such as protests, lawsuits, lobbying, petitions, and strikes. A person who engages in activism can be called an activist. The word activist implies that such actions are taken consistently—that the activist is consistently active in their activism. For example, protesting is a form of activism, but someone who attends one protest probably wouldn’t be called an activist (unless they continue to take such actions). Like activist, the word activism is often preceded by a word referring to the kind of cause involved, as in political activism or environmental activism. Example: The only way to achieve change is to engage in continued activism—we can’t sit on the sidelines if we want to see results.

Other Word Forms

• activist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of activism

From the German word Aktivismus, dating back to 1905–10. See active, -ism

Explanation

Activism is working or campaigning for political or social change. Your activism as a college student might help you get a job with a human rights organization after you graduate. There are many different kinds of activism — advocating for environmental regulations is one type of activism, and marching in the streets to protest the closing of your town's library is another kind. Any controversial social issues you can think of involve activism on both sides. This sense of the word has been around since 1920, from activist. The Latin root of both words is actus, "a doing, a driving."

Example Sentences

Clooney, who is also known for his political activism and humanitarian work, is a regular at the gathering on the Venice Lido.

From Barron's • Jul. 6, 2026

So the activism community needs to get better, the media community needs to get better, and the politicians who care about this need to be more active about leading on it.

From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026

His activism got him kicked out of high school, and he went into hiding to avoid arrest, according to a 2008 interview.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2026

Dong has been prosecuted by Chinese authorities for his human-rights activism and advocacy of democratic freedoms, according to a 2022 letter by United Nations special rapporteurs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

“This was the seventies. Lots of turmoil. Civil rights activism, yes. But lots of pushback.”

From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Related Words

• advocacy
• involvement
• militancy