power base

noun

: a base of political support

Example Sentences

Both candidates are doing whatever they can to raise money from their power bases. Most of her power base is in the city.
Recent Examples on the Web Tennessee Republicans’ dramatic expulsion of two Democrats who agitated for gun control in the state Capitol after a mass killing is the latest move by Republican state leaders around the country to stifle dissent and expand their power base, free speech experts say. Annie Gowen And Tim Craig, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Apr. 2023 Focused mostly on saving face with his supporters and preserving his political power base, Trump has worked the phone for much of the week, calling Republican governors, state election officials, Republican National Committee staffers, allies and friends. Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2020 That gives him a power base to play a role that other defeated one-term presidents like Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush have not played. Peter Baker An, Star Tribune, 4 Nov. 2020 He was considered the top boss of Sicily’s Cosa Nostra, even while a fugitive and had a power base in the port city of Trapani, in western Sicily. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2023 This gave him a 50,000-strong fighting force and a new, heavily armed power base. Thomas Grove, WSJ, 10 Mar. 2023 Once considered a contender for the top position, the elder Li had his own power base built from rising up the ranks of the Communist Youth League. Lyric Li, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2023 With older Russians who make up the majority of Putin’s power base naturally dying off, younger urbanites who have historically populated the ranks of the now-beleaguered opposition may become more influential. Keir Simmons, NBC News, 3 Feb. 2023 Cosa Nostra top boss even while a fugitive and had a power base in the port city of Trapani, in western Sicily. Landon Mion, Fox News, 16 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'power base.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of power base was in 1959

Dictionary Entries Near power base

Cite this Entry

“Power base.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/power%20base. Accessed 9 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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