state socialism

noun

: an economic system with limited socialist characteristics that is effected by gradual state action and typically includes public ownership of major industries and remedial measures to benefit the working class

Examples of state socialism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In these new circumstances, capitalism and state socialism competed over which system could best navigate the disappointment of citizens. Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023 Under state socialism, difficult living conditions or a difficult personal situation were grounds for termination. Anne-Marie Kramer, Discover Magazine, 1 July 2015 Where many tales of state socialism are somber, even maudlin, Ypi is witty and acute. Sophie Pinkham, The New Republic, 1 Feb. 2022 Soviet-style planning and state socialism protected the family’s legacy licensed firms by keeping competition out. Andy Mukherjee | Bloomberg, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2019 With the collapse of the Soviet Union, state socialism on the Eastern Bloc model had been discredited. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 18 June 2019 Herbert Hoover, who could justifiably campaign as a progressive Republican, pigeonholed Smith as an advocate of state socialism (the same epithet that a spiteful Smith would hurl at Roosevelt in 1936). Sam Roberts, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2018 Yet since the country cast off state socialism in the 1980s, crony capitalists have come to control the Communist Party. Alice Han and, WSJ, 7 July 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'state socialism.' 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

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of state socialism was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near state socialism

Cite this Entry

“State socialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/state%20socialism. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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