america first committee: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowHistorical, Political, Academic, Formal
Quick answer
What does “america first committee” mean?
A historic isolationist political pressure group active in the United States from September 1940 to December 1941, which opposed American entry into World War II.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historic isolationist political pressure group active in the United States from September 1940 to December 1941, which opposed American entry into World War II.
A significant lobbying movement that promoted strict non-interventionism in European conflicts, emphasizing American nationalism and opposition to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's foreign policy. Today, the phrase serves as a historical reference point for political movements prioritizing national sovereignty and protectionism, and is sometimes invoked in contemporary political rhetoric.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In American English, the term is a recognized historical proper noun. In British English, it is a specific term for an American historical group; British historical narratives of WWII may refer to it as 'the America First movement' or 'the America First lobby'.
Connotations
In American discourse, it carries strong historical and political connotations of isolationism, nationalism, and sometimes controversy. In British contexts, it is viewed more distantly as a factor in pre-war US foreign policy. Modern usage in the UK may associate it more strongly with revived US nationalist politics.
Frequency
Exclusively low-frequency. More likely to appear in American historical or political texts. Rare in everyday British English outside academic or historical discussion.
Grammar
How to Use “america first committee” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] + [verb: was, argued, opposed, disbanded]the + [Proper Noun] + of + [Year/Period]a member/supporter of + [Proper Noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Might appear in discussions of historical political risk affecting markets pre-WWII.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and American studies to discuss pre-WWII isolationism, public opinion, and opposition to FDR.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be referenced in political commentary drawing historical parallels.
Technical
Used as a specific historical term in historiography and political history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “america first committee”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “america first committee”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “america first committee”
- Using lower case ('america first committee') - it is a proper noun. Spelling 'commitee'. Using it as a general adjective (e.g., 'He has america first committee views' is incorrect; 'He has America First views' is the modern derived usage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was founded in September 1940 and disbanded in December 1941, shortly after the US entered World War II.
The aviator and national hero Charles Lindbergh was one of its most prominent spokesmen.
No. The modern usage draws on the same phrase and nationalist sentiment but refers to a different political concept and era. The historical committee was a specific organization with a defined lifespan.
Its central purpose—keeping the US out of World War II—became obsolete after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which led the US to declare war. The committee officially dissolved days later.
A historic isolationist political pressure group active in the United States from September 1940 to December 1941, which opposed American entry into World War II.
America first committee is usually historical, political, academic, formal in register.
America first committee: in British English it is pronounced /əˈmɛrɪkə fɜːst kəˈmɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈmɛrɪkə fɜːrst kəˈmɪti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Modern] 'an America First approach' (derived, not original)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AMERICA wanted to be FIRST in its own concerns, so it formed a COMMITTEE to stay out of the world's war.'
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL MOVEMENT AS A VEHICLE (e.g., 'The Committee gained momentum'), PROTECTION AS A SHIELD (e.g., 'argued for a shield of isolationism').
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary goal of the America First Committee?