Populism: Meaning and Definition of

Pop•u•lism

1. the political philosophy of the People's party.
2. (l.c.) any of various, often antiestablishment or anti-intellectual political movements or philosophies that offer unorthodox solutions or policies and appeal to the common person rather than according with traditional party or partisan ideologies.
3. (l.c.) grass-roots democracy; working-class activism; egalitarianism.
4. (l.c.) representation or extolling of the common person, the working class, the underdog, etc.: populism in the arts.