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

• 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:

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

Example Sentences

Both notions of democracy seem relevant to what Orwell means by democratic socialism.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2021

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

His speech Thursday at the National Press Club in Washington comes on the heels of an address Sanders gave Wednesday that was an impassioned defense of his democratic socialism philosophy.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 13, 2019

The Democratic Socialists of America, by contrast, define democratic socialism as an economic system in which workers directly control most of the firms in the economy.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 7, 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