populist

1 of 2

noun

plural populists
1
a
: a supporter of populism : a participant in or advocate of a populist movement
… ran as a fiery populist, criticizing Wall Street banks and bailouts. Bill Allison
… a leftist populist won the presidency with widespread support from the country's working class on his promise to put the poor first. Kate Linthicum
… faces the added challenge of positioning himself as a conservative populist—a skeptic of corporations inside a party often allied with them … Kristina Karisch and Alexis Simendinger
b
: a member of a political party claiming to represent ordinary people against the Establishment (see establishment sense 2a)
especially, often Populist plural Populists : a member of a U.S. political party formed in 1891 primarily to represent agrarian interests and to call for the free coinage of silver and government control of monopolies
2
: a believer in the rights, wisdom, or virtues of the common people
… civic populists like Andrew Carnegie, who built hundreds of libraries in small towns, and Bill Gates, whose foundation ministers to global masses. Christopher Glazek

populist

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or characterized by populism (see populism sense 1) or political populists (see populist entry 1 sense 1b)
Campaign finance reform is usually sold as a populist means to strengthen the power of "ordinary" citizens against dominant, big-money interests. Anthony Corrado
Historically, populist movements use the rhetoric of class solidarity to seize political power so that "the people" can exercise it for their common benefit. Mark Lill
populist reluctance to devote public resources drawn from all to the benefit of a few. Carolyn Lougee
… blue-collar, downscale voters who are economically populist and socially moderate. Jonathan Chait
specifically, often Populist : of or relating to the Populist (see populist entry 1 sense 1b) political party formed in 1891
American mistrust of big business dates back to the Populist movement at the turn of the century, when the nation's key antitrust laws were adopted. Kathryn Harris
… in 1896 ran … on the Populist ticket … Alan Blinder
2
: appealing to most people : having qualities that people tend to like and understand : popular
This wine is a blend of traditional Portuguese grapes. … It's as polished as the most aristocratic red Bordeaux, but the price is more populist at $17. Matt Kramer
He is a populist gourmet. … More arugula, please. But let me have some fries with that. A. O. Scott

Examples of populist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Trump has ensured that there will be a premium on tough-on-U.S. rhetoric in the impending election between Trudeau’s Liberal replacement, Mark Carney, and the talented Conservative populist Pierre Poilievre. The Editors, National Review, 12 Mar. 2025 The conservative populist Pat Buchanan was an early darling of the Russian right. Michael McFaul, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Despite Trump’s populist messaging on the campaign trail, his administration is one of the wealthiest in US history, with more than a dozen billionaires and mega-millionaires on staff. Allison Morrow, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025 Before Trump’s election and the start of the cross-border trade war, the Liberals, who have been in power in Canada since 2015, were heading for certain defeat with the Conservatives, led by populist right-winger Pierre Poilievre, tipped to take over in Ottawa. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for populist

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin populus people entry 1 + -ist entry 1

Adjective

derivative of populist entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of populist was in 1891

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Cite this Entry

“Populist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populist. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

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