populism

Etymology

From Latin populus +‎ -ism.

Noun

populism (countable and uncountable, plural populisms)

1. (philosophy) A political doctrine or philosophy that proposes that the rights and powers of ordinary people are exploited by a privileged elite, and supports their struggle to overcome this.
2. (derogatory) The practice of appealing to the interests of the common people.
   • 2006, Prasanta Chakravarty, Like Parchment in the Fire, page 104:

     It is not crass populism or majoritanianism that ratifies the legitimacy of the polity or the administration.

See also

• demagoguery
• people's party

Etymology

Borrowed from French populisme. By surface analysis, popul +‎ -ism.

Noun

populism n (uncountable)

1. populism