silent majority

noun

1. the U.S. citizens who supported President Nixon's policies but who were not politically vocal, outspoken, or active: considered by him to constitute a majority.

2. any group of people who are not outspoken and who are considered to constitute a majority.

silent majority

noun

1. a presumed moderate majority of the citizens who are too passive to make their views known

silent majority

1. A term used by President Richard Nixon to indicate his belief that the great body of Americans supported his policies and that those who demonstrated against the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War amounted to only a noisy minority.

Word History and Origins

Origin of silent majority¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Idioms and Phrases

A group that makes up a majority of voters but does not widely express its views through marches or demonstrations. For example, They thought they had a convincing case, but they hadn't counted on the silent majority. This idiom was first recorded in 1874 but gained currency in the 1960s, when President Richard Nixon claimed that his policies were supported by a majority of citizens who did not bother to make their views known.

Example Sentences

She told the fringe that in power, the Tories had got into the habit of "taking policies" from green energy lobby groups, without considering whether the "silent majority" out in the country would agree.

From BBC

He argued that the Lib Dems had a "moral responsibility" to challenge Reform and urged his party to embrace patriotism to speak for "Britain's decent silent majority".

From BBC

We’re witnessing a partisan passion play, with the biggest losers our democracy and the silent majority of Americans like my father who just want to live life.

From Los Angeles Times

As Stephens put it, “There’s a silent majority of people who prefer our style of good-humored disagreement to the endless food fight that is today’s politics.”

From Slate

He is giving a voice, he says, to what he calls "the silent majority" of Hongkongers who do not support independence from China, nor the disruption created by the protests.

From BBC