majoritarianism

American

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

noun

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Perhaps that is why Gandhi went to such lengths to foreswear majoritarianism, instead stressing tolerance of even the smallest of minorities.

From BBC • Nov. 18, 2021

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023