If you describe a politician or an artist as populist, you mean that they claim to care about the interests and opinions of ordinary people rather than those of a small group.
[formal]
The changes on gas have been forced on the populist President by several factors.
The city of Memphis is promoting a populist approach to culture.
A populist is someone who expresses populist views.
populist in British English
(ˈpɒpjʊlɪst)
adjective
1.
appealing to the interests or prejudices of ordinary people
noun
2.
a person, esp a politician, who appeals to the interests or prejudices of ordinary people
Populist in British English
(ˈpɒpjʊlɪst)
noun
1. US history
a member of the People's Party, formed largely by agrarian interests to contest the 1892 presidential election. The movement gradually dissolved after the 1904 election
adjective also: Populistic
2.
of, characteristic of, or relating to the People's Party, the Populists, or any individual or movement with similar aims
Derived forms
Populism (ˈPopulism)
noun
Populist in American English
(ˈpɑpjəlɪst)
US
noun
1.
a member of a U.S. political party (Populist party or People's party, 1891-1904) advocating free coinage of gold and silver, public ownership of utilities, an income tax, and support of labor and agriculture
2. [p-]
any person, esp. a politician or political leader, who claims to represent the interests, views, or tastes of the common people, particularly as distinct from those of the rich or powerful
, often applied to someone with demagogic tendencies
adjective
3.
of the Populist party
4. [p-]
a.
of or characteristic of a populist
b.
of or for the common people
Derived forms
Populism (ˈPopuˌlism)
noun or ˈpopuˌlism
Word origin
< L populus, people + -ist1
Examples of 'populist' in a sentence
populist
Is it absolutely necessary for populist politicians to have absurd hair?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His turn of phrase is more reminiscent of a populist politician than an academic theorist.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Labour is one credible right-wing populist away from losing what it still regards as its core vote.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She has previously criticised populist politicians playing to Right wing voters.
The Sun (2016)
Mature democracies can handle populist politicians, use them, discard them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are a tempting target for any populist politician anxious to please an audience.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Such a measure would have populist appeal.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Nice populist touch here that plays well.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The second is that financial reform remains a potent arena for populist politics.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This is a piece with straightforward populist appeal.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His policy agenda includes too many populist measures.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He is a straight talker a populist touch.
The Sun (2009)
Both parties have been shaken by populist politics and protest votes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their populist appeal was not in doubt.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But politicians want him on their side because they know that he has the populist touch.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It will be all about gaining populist appeal.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But behind a clumsy grasp of administration lies a sure populist touch.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
His case was largely a rhetorical appeal to populist discontent.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He added that lasting hardship is set to undermine centrist politics and fuel the rise of populist politics and politicians.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There is speculation that they could form a dream ticket, intellectual rigour with a populist touch.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It also would widen the chasm between the economic haves and have-nots when economic dislocation is feeding a dangerous rise in populist politics.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Having failed to secure these, they may now be succeeded by a populist movement that imagines itself immune from the laws of arithmetic.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Only Britain's populist politics stands in the way.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It isn't sound economics; it is just populist politics.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Once that is understood, it becomes easier to answer the questions being raised by populist politicians in the North.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Neither system has proved perfect, but don't let a populist politician sell a new generation a total myth.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The government made matters worse by introducing populist measures, relaxing the requirements to repay, and restricting the power of lenders to recover debts.