populist
used to describe politics that say they represent ordinary people against rich, powerful, or established groups
supporting or using a political approach that claims to speak for ordinary people and presents them as opposed to a powerful elite.
a politician or supporter who says they speak for ordinary people against powerful groups
a person, especially a politician, who supports or uses populist politics.
made for ordinary people to enjoy or understand, not just specialists or elites
intended to be popular with, enjoyable for, or easily understood by a wide general audience rather than only by experts or cultural elites.
a supporter of a U.S. political party from the late 1800s called the Populist Party or People's Party
a member or supporter of the Populist Party, a late 19th-century U.S. political party also called the People's Party.
- Base: populist
- Comparative: populister
- Superlative: populistest
- Base: populist
- Plural: populists
left-wing populist
1left-wing anti-elite politics
a populist who has left-wing political views
- The senator built a reputation as a left-wing populist who attacked banks and monopolies.
- Left-wing populist parties often focus on inequality and the power of big corporations.
- Some voters saw the movement as socialist, while others described it as left-wing populist.
- She is a left-wing populist.
- The left-wing populist campaign talked about wages and housing.
populist backlash
1reaction against political elites
a strong political reaction by voters who support populists because they are angry with powerful groups
- The referendum was widely seen as a populist backlash against the political establishment.
- Rising prices and distrust of institutions created a populist backlash in rural areas.
- The government tried to respond to the populist backlash without abandoning its reforms.
- There was a populist backlash against the old leaders.
- The crisis caused a populist backlash.
populist movement
1organized populist campaign
a political movement that says it fights for ordinary people against powerful groups
- The financial crisis helped fuel a populist movement against established parties.
- The new populist movement attracted voters from both the left and the right.
- Journalists struggled to define the populist movement because its supporters had different policy goals.
- A populist movement grew after the crisis.
- The populist movement attacked the old parties.
populist party
1U.S. historical political party
a political party in the United States in the late 1800s, also called the People's Party
- The Populist Party appealed to many farmers who felt ignored by the major parties.
- In 1892, the Populist Party nominated James B. Weaver for president.
- The People's Party is often referred to as the Populist Party in U.S. history books.
- The Populist Party was active in the 1890s.
- Farmers supported the Populist Party.
populist rhetoric
1anti-elite persuasive language
political language that tells ordinary people that elites are against them
- The speech mixed detailed proposals with populist rhetoric about corrupt elites.
- Opponents said the governor used populist rhetoric to avoid discussing difficult policy choices.
- The party softened its populist rhetoric after entering government.
- The candidate used populist rhetoric in his speech.
- Her populist rhetoric was aimed at angry voters.
populist wave
1rising populist support
a period when many people start supporting populist politicians or parties
- Several surprise election results suggested a populist wave across the region.
- The party tried to ride the populist wave by attacking judges, journalists, and business leaders.
- Some analysts argued that the populist wave had peaked.
- A populist wave changed the election.
- The leader rode a populist wave to power.
right-wing populist
1right-wing anti-elite politics
a populist who has right-wing political views
- The election brought several right-wing populists into parliament.
- A right-wing populist party campaigned on border security and opposition to the political establishment.
- Commentators disagreed about whether the new president should be called a conservative or a right-wing populist.
- He is a right-wing populist leader.
- The right-wing populist party won more votes this year.