grass roots: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-high (frequent in political, social, and organizational contexts)Formal, journalistic, political, business
Quick answer
What does “grass roots” mean?
The most basic level of an organization or community.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The most basic level of an organization or community; the ordinary people, as opposed to the leadership or elite.
The fundamental source or origin; activity, support, or funding derived from the ordinary members of a community or organization, rather than from its leadership or external sources.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar, but slightly more prevalent in American political discourse. Spelling: usually open compound ('grass roots') or hyphenated attributively ('grass-roots').
Connotations
Positively connotes authenticity, democracy, and popular involvement. Sometimes used pejoratively to imply lack of sophistication or organisation.
Frequency
Comparatively frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “grass roots” in a Sentence
grass-roots + N (attributive)support/comes from + the grass rootsat grass-roots levelVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grass roots” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The party's policy was shaped by consultation with the grass roots.
- Real change must come from the grass roots upwards.
American English
- The campaign's funding came primarily from the grass roots.
- He has strong connections to the grass roots of the union.
adjective
British English
- It was a genuine grass-roots initiative with little central coordination.
- They are conducting a grass-roots survey of members' opinions.
American English
- The candidate focused on grassroots fundraising.
- A grassroots movement emerged to oppose the development.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to customer feedback or initiatives originating from junior staff.
Academic
Used in sociology and political science to describe social movements.
Everyday
Used to describe local community action or support.
Technical
Less common, but can appear in discussions of organisational structure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grass roots”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grass roots”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grass roots”
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a grass root'). It is predominantly plural and often attributive.
- Confusing with 'grassroots' (one word) which is an acceptable variant, especially as an adjective.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is treated as plural when referring to the people (e.g., 'The grass roots are unhappy'). As an attributive adjective, it is singular (e.g., 'grass-roots movement').
There is no significant difference in meaning. 'Grass roots' is the traditional open form. 'Grassroots' (one word) is a common modern variant, especially in American English and when used adjectivally.
Yes, it can refer to initiatives, feedback, or support originating from frontline employees or regular customers, as opposed to senior management.
It is standard in formal journalism, academia, and political discourse. It is not overly technical and is widely understood.
The most basic level of an organization or community.
Grass roots: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡrɑːs ˈruːts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡræs ˈruːts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take it to the grass roots”
- “Grass-roots up”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of real grass: the roots are at the very bottom, supporting everything above. Similarly, 'grass roots' support is the foundational support from the very base of a group.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY/ORGANIZATION IS A PLANT (the 'roots' are the fundamental, nourishing source).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'grass roots' in a political context?