PoliticsJuly 9, 2026

populism

/ˈpɒpjʊlɪzəm/

Definition

A political approach or style of communication that characterizes complex societal problems as a conflict between 'the people' and a corrupt or detached elite, often utilizing emotionally charged narratives to foster a sense of grievance and restoration.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word 'populus', meaning 'the people', the term entered English in the late 19th century. It originally referred to the platform of the People's Party in the United States, which sought to represent the interests of ordinary citizens against industrial and financial elites.

In the news

In this article, the term is used to describe Donald Trump’s political strategy of reducing complex issues into simplistic, emotionally resonant stories that cast him as the sole defender of the people against corrupt elites. It is presented as a powerful, albeit often inflammatory, tool for capturing voter sentiment through narrative compression.

Facts Don’t Win Elections. Stories Do.

Read the full article ↗

The Fulcrum

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.