netroots

American  

[net-roots, ‑-roots] / ˈnɛtˌruts, ‑ˌrʊts /

plural noun

1. an online community of grassroots political activists who use blogs and other social media to achieve results.

   The netroots have had genuine impact, changing U.S. politics in many ways.

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Etymology

Origin of netroots

First recorded in 2000–05; (inter)net + (grass)roots

Example Sentences

The first sign of it was a term now forgotten, "netroots".

From New York Times • Jan. 19, 2016

He ran for Senate in 2006 after a lively netroots “Draft Jim Webb” campaign, and a year later he was widely seen as a fitting running mate for Obama.

From Slate • Oct. 14, 2015

“The real story here was dozens of public interest groups, new civil rights leaders and netroots organizers coordinating actions online and off, inside and outside Washington,” he wrote.

From US News • Feb. 26, 2015

Weiner has spent the last year becoming the sort of unapologetic liberal Democrat that netroots activists and cable news bookers love.

From Salon • Jun. 1, 2010

Jacobs's organization, Courage Campaign, started in 2005 to pursue progressive issues in the state, and its Web site says it has 700,000 "grassroots and netroots citizens."

From Newsweek • Feb. 17, 2010