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

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

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

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

An intense sense of independence that came from a generation of democratic socialism.

From Terminal Compromise: computer terrorism: when privacy and freedom are the victims: a novel by Schwartau, Winn