noun (used with a singular or plural verb)Also grass roots .
the common or ordinary people, especially as contrasted with the leadership or elite of a political party, social organization, etc.; the rank and file.
the agricultural and rural areas of a country.
the people inhabiting these areas, especially as a political, social, or economic group.
the origin or basis of something; the basic or primary concept, rule, part, or the like.
adjective Also grass-roots .
of, relating to, or involving the common people, especially as contrasted with or separable from an elite: a grassroots movement for nuclear disarmament.
This victory would be impossible without the incredible work of hundreds of grassroots volunteers.
Sarah McBride wins primary, likely to be first out trans state senator in U.S.|Chris Johnson|September 16, 2020|Washington Blade
Maskhane, a grassroots organization, brings together natural-language-processing researchers from Africa to bolster machine-translation work that has neglected nondominant languages.
AI ethics groups are repeating one of society’s classic mistakes|Amy Nordrum|September 14, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The “Drag Ambassadors” have hosted dozens of grassroots events throughout the year to encourage their audiences to register and have a plan for voting.
Virtual Drag Out the Vote event features ‘Drag Race’ alum|Steph Purifoy|September 11, 2020|Washington Blade
She had to promise them that her grassroots organization, Girls United for Human Rights, would arrange for the girl’s books and school uniform.
The Teenager Breaking Up Child Marriages, Door to Door|Pallabi Munsi|September 2, 2020|Ozy
It started with a grassroots effort and is doing some wonderful things.
Private Border Wall Fundraisers Have Been Arrested on Fraud Charges|by Perla Trevizo, Jeremy Schwartz and Lexi Churchill|August 20, 2020|ProPublica
The delegates were given envelopes containing $40,000 during a meeting about grassroots soccer initiatives.
Is Soccer Great Lionel Messi Corrupt?|Jack Holmes|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Either way, this is a conversation that is occurring not just at the penthouse level, but among the grassroots as well.
Rand Paul, Chris Christie Laid Out Plans for Black Voters at Penthouse Forum|David Freedlander|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Grassroots organizing accompanied an agenda of legislative sabotage led by the Republican congressional hierarchy.
Why Bigotry Persists|Stephen Eric Bronner|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, Democratic strategists say, the grassroots were hungry for a real debate after eight years of George Bush.
Does Team Hillary Want a Democratic Challenge?|David Freedlander|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Both mobilized a grassroots organization unprecedented in their countries, and both hawked progressive agendas.
Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality|Noah Caldwell|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His eye to the grassroots, Gramps had long ago understood that everything was as old as creation itself and yet was eternally new.
The Black Fawn|James Arthur Kjelgaard
In my budget, I propose a grassroots campaign to help inform families about these medical risks.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various
Goals 2000 links world-class standards to grassroots reforms and I hope Congress will pass it without delay.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various
British Dictionary definitions for grassroots
grass roots
pl n
the ordinary people as distinct from the active leadership of a party or organization: used esp of the rank-and-file members of a political party, or of the voters themselves
(as modifier)the newly elected MP expressed a wish for greater contact with people at grass-roots level
the origin or essentials
Word Origin for grass roots
C20: sense 1 originally US, with reference to rural areas in contrast to the towns