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retail politics

American

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

a political strategy or campaign style of meeting and speaking directly to as many voters as possible.

New Hampshire is a state where retail politics are decisive.
Not every candidate is good at retail politics.

retail politics British

noun

informal (functioning as plural) the practice of a politician soliciting in person for votes from the public

"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 retail politics

First recorded in 1900–05; in the sense of “politics in which votes are for sale”

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.

Raman’s supporters acknowledge she has shortcomings when it comes to retail politics, but say those should not overshadow her strengths.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026

Manzur’s theory is that, in a state like New Hampshire, famous for the retail politics of its presidential primary, even a relatively small group of volunteers can move the needle.

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2025

The model for how retail politics can shape a presidential campaign was Rick Santorum’s 2012 run for the Republican nomination.

From Slate • Jan. 14, 2024

Even her critics acknowledge that she is a master of retail politics - the door-knocking and handshaking that delivered her to the statehouse in 2005.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2024

Mr. Putin has long loathed populist retail politics, deriding the sort of baby kissing required of American politicians campaigning for office as frivolous and vulgar.

From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2023

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