big tent

American  

noun

1. a political party's or coalition's policy or doctrine of allowing and encouraging a wide range of beliefs, opinions, and views among its members.

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big tent British  

noun

1. 1. a political approach in which a party claims to be open to a wide spectrum of constituents and groups

   2. ( as modifier )

      big-tent politics

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Other Word Forms

• big-tent adjective

Etymology

Origin of big tent

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Finding that big tent of voters gets tougher and tougher.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her Mexican heritage is the big tent in which these other personal elements mingle, and though she was a city girl her focus often settles on more remote parts of the country and their indigenous communities.

From The Wall Street Journal

Just as Logan Roy’s fanbase includes plenty of people he wouldn’t allow to shine his shoes, John Dutton’s bravura and the rest of his family’s messiness is truly a big tent affair.

From Salon

Where do we draw the line of who gets invited into the big tent?

From Slate

This expanded criteria makes discussions about curing or preventing autism incredibly fraught, because the label autism spectrum disorder is now such a big tent.

From Slate