populism

noun

pop·​u·​lism ˈpä-pyə-ˌli-zəm 

plural populisms

1

: a political philosophy or movement that represents or is claimed to represent the interests of ordinary people especially against the Establishment (see establishment sense 2a)

Populism usually arises from a general discontent. … People feel that things are out of control, socially and economically. … The idea that this is the fault of the meritocratic elite is an easy sell.

—Nicholas Lemann

… anti-government populism is beginning to give way to the more classic, anti-corporate populism …

—Leslie Savan

… Elizabeth Warren summoned the familiar and fiery spirits of Democratic populism. "Our job is to fight for the families of America," the Massachusetts Senator yelled over applause. … "Stitch up the tax loopholes so that millionaires and billionaires pay at the same tax rate as the people in this room."

—Jay Newton-Small

There are few things more terrifying than demagogic populism, sharpened dangerously into authoritarian rule, with minorities left at the mercy of those now in charge of writing and enforcing the laws.

—George Takei

The move comes amid a rise in economic populism in the GOP, Republican strategist John Feehery told the Washington Examiner. Even as the party writ large is generally supportive of the business community, an insurgent crop of Republican lawmakers is pursuing a more working-class-friendly agenda …

—Samantha-Jo Roth

sometimes, specifically : the political and economic doctrines advocated by the Populists (see populist entry 1 sense 1b)

… the nativist populism of the 1890s, the political and social movement of poor and dispossessed farmers who saw the source of their plight as the controllers of money and the rule of gold …

—Daniel Bell

2

: general concern for ordinary people

… a profile of James Brown in Look, in February of 1969. The article celebrated Mr. Brown's business empire … and his populism (traveling a hundred thousand miles a year to reach three million fans where they lived; capping ticket prices at five dollars for adults and ninety-nine cents for children under twelve) …

—Philip Gourevitch

Examples of populism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even before Oz chokes Vic to death and dumps his body, steals the money from his wallet, and discards his ID in Gotham River, The Penguin tests how much depravity its audience can take when it’s packaged in populism. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024

Trump's closest allies in the Senate have been defenders of his brand of conservative populism. —Riley Beggin, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024

Maybe the coalition could infuse some of Trump’s old instincts (the nativism, the unending crusade against a pervasive enemy) with a new sense of purpose (more working-class cred, a turn toward economic populism). —Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2024

So, what could be the window for some detente between these two states whose armies revel in bellicosity that keeps them relevant to raw domestic populism? —Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

Sure, Vance can point to his erstwhile populism and his advocacy for East Palestine, Ohio, after an epic train derailment just days into his arrival in Washington. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 30 Sep. 2024

With a little over three weeks left until Election Day, both the former president and his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, are indulging in some economic populism to lure voters. —Gram Slattery and James Oliphant, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2024

This frustration may well be fueling the rise of populism in today’s politics. —Bob Haber, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024

One of the things at the root of populism is conspiracy theory. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from popul(ist) entry 1 + -ism

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 2