democratic socialism

noun

: a political movement calling for the establishment of a decentralized socialist economic system within a democratically run political system

According to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the goal of having democratic socialism is to achieve a more equal and just society; that the economy and society be run "democratically."

—Timothy Kandow

Might it be better to chuck conservatism and liberalism altogether in favor of something like democratic socialism?

—Laurie Ouellette

… democratic socialism remains poorly understood and is frequently conflated, incorrectly, with communism—or, on the flip side, with European-style social democracy.

—Maggie Astor

see also socialism

democratic socialist adjective

Although state ownership is certainly an important mechanism in the democratic socialist tool kit, it's definitely not the only one.

—Samuel Arnold

democratic socialist noun

plural democratic socialists

a meeting of democratic socialists

Socialism vs. Social Democracy vs. Democratic Socialism: Usage Guide

Since the term socialism entered English around 1830, it has consistently referred to a system of social organization in which the ownership of property and the distribution of income are subject to social rather than private control. The conception of that control, however, has varied, and socialism has been interpreted in widely diverging ways, ranging from statist to libertarian, from Marxist to liberal. In the modern era, "pure" socialism has been seen only rarely and usually briefly in a few Communist regimes. Far more common are social democracies, such as Sweden and Denmark: democratically elected governments that employ some socialist practices but within a capitalist framework in the belief that extensive state regulation paired with limited state ownership produces a fair distribution of income without impairing economic growth. While in the past social democracy and democratic socialism both referred to movements seeking a fully socialist system, the two terms have diverged. Today's social democracies retain a capitalist system overall, while democratic socialism rejects capitalism fully, and seeks to establish a decentralized socialist economic system within a democratically run government.

Usage of Social Democracy and Democratic Socialism

While in the past social democracy and democratic socialism both referred to movements seeking a fully socialist system, the two terms have diverged. Today's social democracies retain a capitalist system overall, while democratic socialism rejects capitalism fully, and seeks to establish a decentralized socialist economic system within a democratically run government.

Examples of democratic socialism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While not a member of the DSA himself, Sanders did identify as a democratic socialist, and the new attention that democratic socialism thereby received resulted in the DSA’s membership increasing from 6,500 in 2014 to 8,500 by Election Day in 2016. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026

Later in his 35-minute speech, which veered into and out of several topics, including democratic socialism and the Small Business Administration, Minaj came back up. — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026

Although its advocates may claim inspiration from both the Great Society tradition of the Democratic Party and Nordic-style democratic socialism, consumer socialism is really a muddle of the two. — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

There are clear differences between democratic socialism and communism, which envisions a government-less, class-less society where resources are distributed evenly. — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 4 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for democratic socialism

• congregationalism
• constitutionalism
• cosmopolitanism
• electromagnetism
• environmentalism
• epicureanism
• evangelicalism
• hyperparathyroidism
• individualism
• institutionalism
• intellectualism
• internationalism