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.

Popular among grassroots movements, the concept of "Fossil Free Zones" is slowly gaining traction in international meetings and found fertile ground in Santa Marta.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Again he is facing monied competition — including from chief Democratic rival Tom Steyer, a self-funded billionaire — and relying on Latino and other grassroots support.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

This is the result of a year of work, of building out a grassroots organization that is focused on people.

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2026

"Things have conspired against grassroot artists," he tells BBC News, "and without grassroots artists, there are no big artists."

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Powerful grassroots political movements were being formed inside the country that had firm links to the ANC, the principal one being the United Democratic Front, of which I was named a patron.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Vocabulary lists containing grassroots

Idioms and Expressions, List 4

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Civics II

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