grassroots: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, journalistic, political
Quick answer
What does “grassroots” mean?
The most fundamental level of a community, organization, or movement, especially the ordinary people rather than the leaders.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The most fundamental level of a community, organization, or movement, especially the ordinary people rather than the leaders.
1. Originating from or involving the ordinary members of a community, party, or organization. 2. Used to describe movements, support, or campaigns that are driven by local communities or average citizens, not by central authorities, political leaders, or professional organizations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: Typically one word in both varieties ('grassroots'). Hyphenated form ('grass-roots') is less common but acceptable in both. No significant difference in meaning.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties: authenticity, community-driven, democratic. Slightly more common in American political discourse.
Frequency
High frequency in political, social, and journalistic contexts in both varieties. Slightly higher raw frequency in AmE due to the larger volume of political reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “grassroots” in a Sentence
[adj] + grassroots + [noun]grassroots + [noun]at the grassrootsfrom the grassroots upVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grassroots” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The campaign aims to grassroots the issue in constituencies nationwide.
- They need to grassroots their message more effectively.
American English
- The party is trying to grassroots its voter outreach program.
- We need to grassroots this initiative in all 50 states.
adverb
British English
- The movement grew entirely grassroots.
- They organised the protest very grassroots.
American English
- The support for the policy built up grassroots.
- The operation was run completely grassroots.
adjective
British English
- The party's grassroots membership was consulted.
- It was a genuine grassroots campaign.
American English
- She enjoys strong grassroots support in the district.
- They relied on grassroots fundraising.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May refer to 'grassroots marketing' – promotional strategies targeting individual consumers in local communities.
Academic
Used in political science, sociology, and development studies to describe participatory models, social movements, and civil society.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation. Used when discussing politics, community projects, or charities.
Technical
Specific term in political campaigning, NGO work, and community organizing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grassroots”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grassroots”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grassroots”
- Using as a plural countable noun (e.g., 'many grassroots' – incorrect). It's typically singular/uncountable or an adjective. Confusing it with 'grass roots' (the literal roots of grass).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is treated as singular when referring to the concept ('The grassroots is angry'). It is often used attributively as an adjective ('grassroots support').
Yes, informally, especially in political/journalistic contexts, meaning 'to develop or organize at a local, community level' (e.g., 'They need to grassroots their campaign').
'Grassroots' emphasizes the origin (the fundamental level) and the bottom-up, non-hierarchical nature of action. 'Community' is broader and describes a group of people in an area or with shared interests, without the specific connotation of initiative coming from the base.
Not always. While it often connotes authenticity and democracy, it can be used critically to describe movements that are narrow, parochial, or even artificially manufactured to appear public-driven ('astroturfing').
The most fundamental level of a community, organization, or movement, especially the ordinary people rather than the leaders.
Grassroots is usually formal, journalistic, political in register.
Grassroots: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡrɑːs.ruːts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡræs.ruːts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take it to the grassroots.”
- “A groundswell of grassroots support.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of real 'grass roots' in soil – the foundation from which the plant grows. Similarly, 'grassroots' support is the foundational, common-people support for an idea.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY/ORGANIZATION IS A PLANT (The 'roots' are the common people; growth and strength come 'from the ground up').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'grassroots' LEAST likely to be used?