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

Tyrnauer also plans to use Tribeca Festival’s history to spark a larger conversation about cities, art, and the need for connection, examining how De Niro and Rosenthal harnessed cinema as a form of civic architecture and activism. —Brent Lang, Variety, 12 June 2026

He was not engaged in any direct activism work currently, said the activist. —ABC News, 12 June 2026

Brantley argues that this history challenges the conventional view of the decade as a period when leftist activism receded and conservative politics prevailed. —H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 12 June 2026

At the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, exhibitions have reportedly been revised and some objects related to civil rights activism removed from public display. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 11 June 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