# socialism

/ˈsoʊʃəˌɫɪzəm/ (US) · /sˈəʊʃəlˌɪzəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/socialism
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 3. government intervention

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

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

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

- Some people argue that universal healthcare is a form of socialism.
- In certain political circles, any increase in corporate regulation is reflexively labelled as socialism, regardless of the actual economic model being proposed.

## Examples

- Many countries have adopted ideas from socialism, such as free public healthcare.
- The political party argued that democratic socialism would reduce poverty by ensuring everyone had access to basic services and fair wages.
- While pure socialism demands the complete public ownership of industry, most modern democratic nations operate mixed economies that blend capitalist markets with socialist welfare programmes.

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