populist
Americannoun
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a supporter or adherent of populism.
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(initial capital letter) a member of the People's party.
adjective
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Also populistic. of, relating to, or characteristic of populism or its adherents.
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(initial capital letter) Also Populistic. of or relating to the People's party.
noun
adjective
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- Populism noun
- anti-populist noun
Etymology
Origin of populist
An Americanism first recorded in 1890–95; from Latin popul(us) “people” ( people, popular ) + -ist
Explanation
Use the noun populist to describe a person — especially a politician or activist — who works to give regular working people a voice in their government. In politics, the word populist refers to someone who puts ordinary people's rights above those of the wealthy and powerful. It is basically a synonym of democrat, which when spelled with a lower-case d is simply a person who believes in democratic principles of rule by the people, freedom, and equality. The root of populist is the Latin word for "people," populus.
Vocabulary lists containing populist
We the People: Popul
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Unit 1, Small-Group Learning
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Content Summary 6.7: Impact of Contemporary Globalization
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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.
Three populist parties are also in the running and opinion polls see them garnering around 19 percent of the vote.
From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026
The religious trend seen in Iran for years—the rise of anticlerical populist Shiism among those who still believe—may gain even more strength.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026
That’s Coogler’s challenge too, and this is his moment to encourage the industry to get back to making ambitious populist hits.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
It was a major cultural change for someone who had come up on the British populist right, as the restaurant attracted patrons interested in blockchain and not just in Brexit.
From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026
Indeed, it is possible to date the chasm that was to develop between the populist mainstream and the classical avant-garde in music to this place and time.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
