lunatic fringe

noun

1. members on the periphery of any group, especially political, social, or religious, who hold extreme or fanatical views.

lunatic fringe

noun

1. the members of a society or group who adopt or support views regarded as extreme or fanatical

lunatic fringe

1. Derogatory name for the extreme radical members of a group, especially in politics: “The candidate referred to the organization as being on the lunatic fringe of conservatism.” The term was coined by Theodore Roosevelt .

Word History and Origins

Origin of lunatic fringe¹

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

They are the lunatic fringe minority, much like school shootings in America.

From The Daily Beast

John Avlon, author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America, ranks the candidates highest on our Wingnuts Index.

From The Daily Beast

For sure, each of the coalition parties has its lunatic fringe.

From The Daily Beast

Second Amendment advocates mingled with the lunatic fringe, celebrating the American Revolution and Tim McVeigh.

From The Daily Beast

Avlon is the author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America.

From The Daily Beast

Roosevelt had, many years before, spoken of the “lunatic fringe” which clings to the skirts of every sincere reform.

From Project Gutenberg

As I have already said, there is a lunatic fringe to every reform movement.

From Project Gutenberg