grass·roots
ˈgras-ˌrüts 
-ˌru̇ts
variants
or less commonly grassroot
ˈgras-ˌrüt
-ˌru̇t
1
: basic, fundamental
the grassroots factor in deciding to buy a house
2
: being, originating, or operating in or at the grass roots
a grassroots organization
grassroots political support
3
: not adapted from or added to an existing facility or operation : totally new
a grassroots refinery
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
1
: the very foundation or source
You must attack the problem at the grass roots.
2
: the basic level of society or of an organization especially as viewed in relation to higher or more centralized positions of power
was losing touch with the party's grass roots
Examples of grassroots in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Villegas built grassroots support in the heavily Latino, working-class district.
—Haley Parsley
june 12, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Stefan Szymanski, Fortune, 12 June 2026
Adult beetles skeletonize foliage, while their larvae, known as grubs, feed on grass roots, resulting in brown patches and dying lawns.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grassroots
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Adjective
After her daughter's murder, Franchetti began a grassroots movement to rewrite family court law, but the legislation was held up by legal language that might have greenlighted hearsay allegations or the potential for false claims that couldn't be refuted.
—Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 12 June 2026
Villegas built grassroots support in the heavily Latino, working-class district.
—Haley Parsley
june 12, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
Ideally, the money goes to invest into grass roots development — but in many cases, there seems little to show for FIFA’s largesse.
—Stefan Szymanski, Fortune, 12 June 2026
Adult beetles skeletonize foliage, while their larvae, known as grubs, feed on grass roots, resulting in brown patches and dying lawns.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grassroots
Cite this Entry
“Grassroots.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grassroots. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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