Populism

[pop-yuh-liz-uh m]

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.

Origin of Populism

1890–95, Americanism; < Latin popul(us) people + -ism

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

Contemporary Examples of populism

In addition to his temperamental aversion to populism, Roosevelt also had a practical reason to be cautious.
The GOP’s Last Identity Crisis Remade U.S. Politics
Michael Wolraich
July 24, 2014
This populism has left little room for Hamdeen Sabahi, the only other candidate in the election.
Egypt Prepares to Anoint a Dictator and Call it an Election
Jesse Rosenfeld
May 21, 2014
Popularity is taking its rightful place in the great American tradition of populism.
Welcome to Showbiz Sharia Law
P. J. O’Rourke
May 4, 2014
Polls show strong public support for many of the ideas that make up this populism.
More Republican Crumbs for the Middle Class
Michael Tomasky
January 31, 2014
That might leave some liberal ideologues cold, but it is a populism that produces results.
Hillary Clinton’s Own Populist Path
Andrei Cherny
December 18, 2013

Historical Examples of populism

In the days of Populism they were more open-minded than the Americans.
The Old World in the New
Edward Alsworth Ross
Armies and navies hold back the waves of populism and democracy.
The Unpopular Review, Volume II Number 3
Various
During the past year the great political change from Republicanism to Populism had taken place in Kansas.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various
At one edge is the Populism of the prairies; at the other, the capitalism that is typified in Pittsburgh.
The Frontier in American History
Frederick Jackson Turner
The individualism of the Kentucky pioneer of 1796 was giving way to the Populism of the Kansas pioneer of 1896.
The Frontier in American History
Frederick Jackson Turner

British Dictionary definitions for populism

populism

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

1893; see populist + -ism. Originally in reference to the political theories of the U.S. Populist Party (also People's Party).

populism in Culture

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.