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Politics & Government vocabulary · Campaigns and Public Opinion

Grassroots

Meaning in politics & government, with examples

/ˌɡrɑːsˈruːts/nounCommon term

In politics & government, grassroots means: The ordinary members and supporters of a party or movement, as opposed to its leaders; also activity that starts with local people rather than with leaders.

In Turkish: taban, parti tabanı, tabandan gelen

How it is used

Used as a plural noun (the party's grassroots) and very often as an adjective: grassroots campaign, grassroots movement, grassroots support. A grassroots campaign relies on volunteers, door-to-door work and small donations.

Example sentences

  1. The party leader promised to listen more to the grassroots.

  2. What began as a grassroots campaign for a new park now has support across the city.

Common collocations

  • grassroots campaign
  • grassroots movement
  • grassroots support
  • party grassroots
  • campaignA planned series of activities, such as speeches, advertisements and meetings with voters, that a candidate or party carries out to win an election.
  • political partyAn organized group of people with similar political aims and ideas who try to win elections so that they can form a government or influence policy.
  • civil societyThe organizations and groups outside government and business through which citizens act together, such as charities, associations, unions and community groups.
  • rallyA large public meeting where a candidate or party leader gives a speech to supporters, or where people gather to show support for a cause.

More terms: Campaigns and Public Opinion

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