activism

noun

ac·​tiv·​ism ˈak-ti-ˌvi-zəm 

: a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue

political activism

environmental activism

Examples of activism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Perry Bacon in The New Republic defined Woke 1 as the years 2014-2020, and included the wave of DEI activism, which led to corporate boards and other institutions adding more women and people of color. — Owen Carry, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

As with the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, many of the attacks coincided with local civil rights activism and protest. — Jason Wollschleger, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026

Tunick has never been convicted of a crime, nor charged with any crime in relation to his activism against the training center. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 18 Aug. 2026

That activism was captured in the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Aktivismus, from aktiv active entry 1 + -ismus -ism

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for activism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• sophism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism