ENGLISH
REFERENCE

socialism

n.
US //ˈsoʊʃəˌɫɪzəm// UK //sˈəʊʃəlˌɪzəm// so·cial·ism
  1. 1 government intervention (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Informal

    a word used to describe government programs like healthcare or taxes that help the public.

    a broad application of the term to any government-funded social welfare program or regulatory policy.

    Example

    Some people argue that universal healthcare is a form of socialism.

    Example

    In certain political circles, any increase in corporate regulation is reflexively labelled as socialism, regardless of the actual economic model being proposed.
    • welfare state
    • statism
    • libertarianism
    • free market
Origin

Attested since 1832; either from French socialisme or from social + -ism.

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