social democrat
Americannoun
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a person who advocates a gradual transition to socialism or a modified form of socialism by and under democratic political processes.
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Social Democrat. (especially in Europe) a member of any of certain Social Democratic parties.
noun
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any socialist who believes in the gradual transformation of capitalism into democratic socialism
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(usually capital) a member of a Social Democratic Party
Etymology
Origin of social democrat
First recorded in 1875–80
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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.
EU social democrat lawmaker Rene Repasi, who will spearhead negotiations with European capitals on a final version of the law, has already included a raft of worker-friendly proposals in his draft report.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
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 ● Mar. 5, 2026
“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 ● Nov. 3, 2025
Rutte‘s replacement after 13 years in office could be the country’s first female premier or a social democrat who left his job as the European Union‘s climate czar to return to national politics.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 22, 2023
He does it out of fear—fear of the social democrat.
From Thoughts out of Season Part I by Ludovici, Anthony M. (Anthony Mario)
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.