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
Right-wing firebrand Steve Bannon admitted Republicans lost ground, but insisted the political answer is to hew closer to Trump‘s message of economic populism.
—Dave Goldiner, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
The Republican Party has shifted toward populism in recent years, which means that GOP lawmakers might be more open to supporting — or at least defending — entitlement programs than in decades past.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Despite losing faith in most politicians, populism resonates Young Americans see very few politicians actively addressing their concerns around affordability, leading some to lose faith in the effectiveness of either major political party.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
Often, those constraints are shed with the thought that populism will become a larger factor in what films are nominated.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2025
The progressive response to that drift has been economic populism, promising new jobs and telling voters that Republicans use cultural wedge issues to distract them from tax cuts for the rich.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The subsequent rise of economic populism has heightened fiscal risks, as governments feel obliged to increase public spending in order to win elections.
—Amaka Anku, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2025
Arrivals of asylum-seekers and other migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa for Europe over the past decade helped fuel rising far-right populism and led to stricter border controls that have drawn heavy criticism from human rights groups.
—Sam McNeil, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
Mamdani's brand of economic populism, which focuses on lowering the city's astronomical cost of living by advocating for the government to prioritize helping the lower and middle classes over the wealthy, has generated buzz and excitement.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
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Dave Goldiner, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
The Republican Party has shifted toward populism in recent years, which means that GOP lawmakers might be more open to supporting — or at least defending — entitlement programs than in decades past.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Despite losing faith in most politicians, populism resonates Young Americans see very few politicians actively addressing their concerns around affordability, leading some to lose faith in the effectiveness of either major political party.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
Often, those constraints are shed with the thought that populism will become a larger factor in what films are nominated.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2025
The progressive response to that drift has been economic populism, promising new jobs and telling voters that Republicans use cultural wedge issues to distract them from tax cuts for the rich.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The subsequent rise of economic populism has heightened fiscal risks, as governments feel obliged to increase public spending in order to win elections.
—Amaka Anku, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2025
Arrivals of asylum-seekers and other migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa for Europe over the past decade helped fuel rising far-right populism and led to stricter border controls that have drawn heavy criticism from human rights groups.
—Sam McNeil, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
Mamdani's brand of economic populism, which focuses on lowering the city's astronomical cost of living by advocating for the government to prioritize helping the lower and middle classes over the wealthy, has generated buzz and excitement.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Populism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populism. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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