social democrat

American  

noun

1. a person who advocates a gradual transition to socialism or a modified form of socialism by and under democratic political processes.

2. Social Democrat. (especially in Europe) a member of any of certain Social Democratic parties.

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social democrat British  

noun

1. any socialist who believes in the gradual transformation of capitalism into democratic socialism

2. (usually capital) a member of a Social Democratic Party

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Etymology

Origin of social democrat

First recorded in 1875–80

Compare meaning

How does social-democrat compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• social democrat vs. democratic socialism

Example Sentences

Reid added that she was a social democrat who believed in "freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections" and was not any sort of "admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist party's dictatorship".

From BBC

However, Montenegro appears to have been taken aback by the strength of feeling against his minority right-of-centre government's plans: one of his Social Democrat MPs is on the UGT executive and even he voted for a strike.

From BBC

When they formed a coalition earlier this year, Merz's conservative CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrat SPD agreed to re-introduce military service which would be voluntary "to start with".

From BBC

Dutch Social Democrat Lara Wolters, who had championed the original law, walked out of talks.

From Barron's

“That changed everything,” said David Brauer, a retired journalist who wrote for Minneapolis publications and who identifies as a center-left social democrat.

From Slate