democratic socialism

American  

noun

1. socialism, or a modified form of socialism, achieved by a gradual transition by and under democratic political processes.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• democratic socialist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of democratic socialism

First recorded in 1845–50

Compare meaning

How does democratic-socialism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• social democracy vs. democratic socialism
• democratic socialism vs. socialism
• social democrat vs. democratic socialism

Example Sentences

This is where I should stop and define what democratic socialism is, as it’s been at the center of much of the misinformation about Mamdani.

From Slate • Jan. 3, 2026

There was his mother’s illness and his family’s struggle to pay her medical bills, his travel abroad, his status as a lonely voice for democratic socialism in Washington.

From New York Times • Jan. 30, 2020

It is there, but it needs to be sharpened, as you did so well in the Rogan and Costa interviews, or in your powerful democratic socialism speech.

From Salon • Sep. 9, 2019

For much of his life, the version of that vision that he shared and promoted was true democratic socialism.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 18, 2019

Platonic and Stoical philosophy—prophetic liberalism—the strong democratic socialism of the Jewish political system—the existence of innumerable sodalities for religious and social purposes—had thrown the ancient world into a state of unstable equilibrium.

From Life and Letters of Thomas Henry Huxley — Volume 3 by Huxley, Leonard