popular front

American

noun

a coalition, usually temporary, of leftist and sometimes centrist political parties, formed against a common opponent, as fascism, and promoting social reform.
any similar political coalition formed to achieve short-term goals.

popular front British

noun

(often capital) any of the left-wing groups or parties that were organized from 1935 onwards to oppose the spread of fascism

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of popular front

1935–40; compare Spanish frente popular, French front populaire

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.

Eskow: Let's try to envision a popular— well, I call it a “popular front.”

From Salon

Voice cloning is another popular front in AI music production.

From Washington Times

Somoza’s corruption and violence had alienated even Nicaragua’s business classes, and a broad popular front implemented a mixed economy promoting popular organization, land reform and the socialization of basic services.

From Seattle Times

If there is going to be a popular front to fight the GOP's crude usurpation of democracy, it's going to take people like Liz Cheney to join up.

From Salon

The label “popular front” first gained currency in France and Spain in the 1930s as parties on the left formed alliances to confront the rise of fascism.

From Los Angeles Times

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