grassroots

[gras-roots, -roots, grahs-] / ˈgræsˌruts, -ˌrʊts, ˈgrɑs- /

NOUN

ordinary citizens

Synonyms

WEAK

Middle America common people hoi polloi laboring class middle class proletariat rank and file the masses wage-earners working class working people

ADJECTIVE

involving ordinary people, rather than politicians

Synonyms

STRONG

democratic local middle-class neighborhood provincial working-class

WEAK

broad-based everyday popular populist widespread

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In each region he visited, Magyar energized a budding grassroots campaign by urging Hungarians to start organizing “citizen circles” made up of Tisza volunteers pushing for change.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Events on motherhood, the legacy of new Labour and grassroots football are also part of the programme.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

He is at heart a centre-right conservative, who held key roles for years in Fidesz before deciding to establish a grassroots movement called Tisza to drive them from power.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

The golf industry is beginning to adapt to these pressures, but local golf courses must lead at the grassroots level.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

We were in the process of building a massive grassroots campaign network—ultimately two hundred staffers in thirty-seven offices—the largest in the history of the Iowa caucuses.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Vocabulary lists containing grassroots

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