majoritarianism

American  

[muh-jawr-i-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm, -jor-] / məˌdʒɔr ɪˈtɛər i əˌnɪz əm, -ˌdʒɒr- /

noun

1. rule by a majority, especially the belief that those constituting a simple majority should make the rules for all members of a group, nation, etc.

---

Etymology

Origin of majoritarianism

First recorded in 1960–65; majoritarian + -ism

Example Sentences

It's "really important to treasure the secular culture of this country, allowing every religion to flourish," he told an Indian newspaper in 2016. "... we must not endanger this by insisting on Hindu majoritarianism".

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026

Democracy involves both majoritarianism — governance that is responsive to the people — and the rule of law — that everyone is accountable to the rules.

From Salon • May 20, 2025

Its inbuilt majoritarianism may offer a useful mechanism for resolving most issues.

From The Guardian • Mar. 30, 2019

The framers of the Constitution, of course, deliberately constructed a government that would check raw majoritarianism.

From Slate • Jun. 21, 2017

It wasn't Guinier who said that "democracy is trivialized when reduced to simple majoritarianism"; it was the conservative commentator George Will.

From Time Magazine Archive