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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.


big tent British  

noun

    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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of big tent

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Carney has built a big tent, attracting members of parliament who would not normally be associated with the Liberal party," Sevi told the BBC.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Finding that big tent of voters gets tougher and tougher.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 2026

What are the pillars around which the big tent can be built, all the way from Mamdani to centrist Marines in Arizona?

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025

“We built a big tent — a multigenerational, multiracial, multiethnic coalition of people, which just reflected my upbringing,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2024

He imagined a big tent on the bridge, with cots set up in neat rows.

From "I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005" by Lauren Tarshis

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