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
Nicholas Lemann… anti-government populism is beginning to give way to the more classic, anti-corporate populism …—Leslie Savan
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
Jay Newton-SmallThere 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
George TakeiThe 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
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
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
Philip GourevitchExamples of populism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Movements like populism, which want to make culture this monolithic gray thing, are so scary.
—Anthony Byrt, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
Again populism that drove the first Trump Administration.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2025
Neither country was ever ripe for populism: the politics of envy, us-against-them.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 25 Feb. 2025
The Gadsden flag also originated around the time of the American Revolution, and later became associated with the right-wing populism of the Tea Party movement, according to Britannica.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2025
Senior executives at major U.S. manufacturing firms are calculating whether Trump’s early threats to Mexico are merely performative populism, or whether Trump really aims to dismantle the existing global trade system and fundamentally disrupt the U.S.-Mexico supply chain.
—Mark Vickers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
Other amendments dealt with housing affordability, energy costs, and the price of groceries as Democrats lean into economic populism following their 2024 election loss.
—David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
Germany’s status as a bulwark against populism will likely be determined not Sunday, but in the years to come.
—Mark Sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb. 2025
His pro-labor philosophy echoed Nebraska’s legacy of prairie populism, notably the founding of the People’s Party in the 1890s, which criticized Republicans and Democrats for failing to protect workers and farmers.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anthony Byrt, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
Again populism that drove the first Trump Administration.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2025
Neither country was ever ripe for populism: the politics of envy, us-against-them.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 25 Feb. 2025
The Gadsden flag also originated around the time of the American Revolution, and later became associated with the right-wing populism of the Tea Party movement, according to Britannica.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2025
Senior executives at major U.S. manufacturing firms are calculating whether Trump’s early threats to Mexico are merely performative populism, or whether Trump really aims to dismantle the existing global trade system and fundamentally disrupt the U.S.-Mexico supply chain.
—Mark Vickers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
Other amendments dealt with housing affordability, energy costs, and the price of groceries as Democrats lean into economic populism following their 2024 election loss.
—David Sivak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
Germany’s status as a bulwark against populism will likely be determined not Sunday, but in the years to come.
—Mark Sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb. 2025
His pro-labor philosophy echoed Nebraska’s legacy of prairie populism, notably the founding of the People’s Party in the 1890s, which criticized Republicans and Democrats for failing to protect workers and farmers.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Populism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populism. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share