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mass movement

American  

noun

  1. an organized effort by a large number of people, especially those not forming part of the elite of a given society, to bring about pervasive changes in existing social, economic, or political institutions, frequently characterized by charismatic leadership.


Etymology

Origin of mass movement

First recorded in 1895–1900


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.

See Examples For:

It blamed human traffickers, and said they had strengthened, not eased, security measures in response to the mass movement of people toward the Ceuta border.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

The demonstrations started in late December sparked by economic grievances but grew into a mass movement against the Islamic republic, with huge street protests from January 8, when authorities imposed an internet blackout.

From Barron's ● Jan. 26, 2026

“We’ve seen how there is power with a mass movement of people. And so we’re hoping that the same thing can happen in this case.”

From Salon ● Nov. 25, 2025

There is no doubt that there will be opposition, he said, but the mass movement behind him will overcome it.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2025

The Southern struggle had grown from a modest group of black students demonstrating peacefully at one lunch counter to the largest mass movement for racial reform and civil rights in the twentieth century.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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