Maoism

American  

[mou-iz-uhm] / ˈmaʊ ɪz əm /

noun

1. the political, social, economic, and military theories and policies advocated by Mao Zedong, as those concerning revolutionary movements and guerrilla warfare.

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Maoism British  

/ ˈmaʊɪzəm /

noun

1. Marxism-Leninism as interpreted by Mao Tse-tung: distinguished by its theory of guerrilla warfare and its emphasis on the revolutionary potential of the peasantry

2. adherence to or reverence for Mao Tse-tung and his teachings

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Maoism Cultural  

1. The doctrines of Mao Zedong, most notably the doctrine that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to be kept in touch with the people. (See Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.)

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Other Word Forms

• Maoist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Maoism

First recorded in 1950–55; Mao (Zedong) ( def. ) + -ism

Compare meaning

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

• Maoism vs. Marxism

Example Sentences

The collapse of Maoism in Chhattisgarh, a stronghold of the insurgency, offers key clues to the movement's broader decline.

From BBC • May 27, 2025

In 1977, Lévy wrote “Barbarism With a Human Face,” in which he rejected Marxism and Maoism.

From New York Times • Feb. 28, 2023

Describe how Maoism reframed Marxism as an anti-imperialist revolution.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

“We’ve seen a lot of very extreme sentiment on China. Is it going back to Maoism? Is it investible?” said William Sterling, global strategist at GW&K Investment Management, which invests in emerging markets including China.

From Reuters • Nov. 2, 2021

The collapse of social trust as a result of decades of Maoism, followed by a get-rich-first ethos, has made honesty a rare quality.

From Washington Post • May 29, 2015

Related Words

• communism