Populism
[ pop-yuh-liz-uh m ]
/ ˈpɒp yəˌlɪz əm /
|
noun
the political philosophy of the People's party.
(lowercase) any of various, often antiestablishment or anti-intellectual political movements or philosophies that offer unorthodox solutions or policies and appeal to the common person rather than according with traditional party or partisan ideologies.
(lowercase) grass-roots democracy; working-class activism; egalitarianism.
(lowercase) representation or extolling of the common person, the working class, the underdog, etc.: populism in the arts.
RELATED CONTENT
Dictionary.com’s 2016 Word of the Year: XenophobiaAt Dictionary.com we aim to pick a Word of the Year that embodies a major theme resonating deeply in the cultural consciousness over the prior 12 months. This year, some of the most prominent news stories have centered around fear of the “other.” Fear is an adaptive part of human evolutionary history and often influences behaviors and perceptions on a subconscious level. However, this particular …
Related formsan·ti-Pop·u·lism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for populism
British Dictionary definitions for populism
populism
/ (ˈpɒpjʊˌlɪzəm) /
noun
a political strategy based on a calculated appeal to the interests or prejudices of ordinary people
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
Word Origin and History for populism
populism
1893; see populist + -ism. Originally in reference to the political theories of the U.S. Populist Party (also People's Party).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Culture definitions for populism
populism
The belief that greater popular participation in government and business is necessary to protect individuals from exploitation by inflexible bureaucracy and financial conglomerates. “Power to the people” is a famous populist slogan.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.