new democratic party
MediumFormal, Political
Definition
Meaning
A political party in Canada founded in 1961, historically positioned on the center-left to left-wing of the political spectrum.
Often used as a proper noun to refer specifically to this Canadian political entity, which is a major federal and provincial party. In a broader, non-capitalized sense, the phrase could theoretically describe any newly formed democratic political organization, but this usage is rare and contextual.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
When capitalized, it is a specific proper noun (the NDP). It carries strong connotations of social democracy, organized labour, and progressive policy in the Canadian context. The name itself suggests renewal or a modern form of democratic socialism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'New Democratic Party' is understood primarily as the Canadian party. In the US, it is also recognized as the Canadian party, but 'Democratic Party' (referring to one of the two major US parties) is far more common, which can cause momentary confusion if context is unclear.
Connotations
In Canada/UK: social democracy, labour movement, progressive politics. In the US: primarily a foreign political entity, sometimes associated with policies considered more left-wing than the US Democratic Party.
Frequency
High frequency in Canadian political discourse; medium-low in international political news; very low in everyday conversation outside Canada.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The] New Democratic Party + [verb: won, lost, proposed, supports][Member/Leader/Candidate] + of + the New Democratic PartyThe New Democratic Party's + [policy/position/platform]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Orange wave (refers to NDP's colour and electoral surge)”
- “Layton's legacy (refers to former leader Jack Layton)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in analysis of policies affecting industry or labour relations.
Academic
Common in political science, Canadian studies, and modern history contexts.
Everyday
Common in Canadian news and political discussions; otherwise rare.
Technical
Used in political journalism, electoral analysis, and historical texts referencing post-1961 Canadian politics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The activists hoped to new-democratic-party the old union structures. (Non-standard, creative use)
- They attempted to NDP their campaign. (Non-standard)
American English
- The group tried to New-Democratic-Party the local election. (Non-standard)
- You can't just NDP your way to victory. (Non-standard)
adverb
British English
- He voted New Democratic Party-ly. (Non-standard, humorous)
- The bill was drafted rather New Democratic Party-ish. (Non-standard)
American English
- They campaigned very New-Democratic-Party-like. (Non-standard)
- She argued the point quite NDP-ly. (Non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He has strong New Democratic Party leanings.
- The policy had a distinct New Democratic Party flavour.
American English
- She advocated a New Democratic Party-style healthcare plan.
- It was a classic New Democratic Party proposal.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The New Democratic Party is in Canada.
- The colour of the New Democratic Party is orange.
- The New Democratic Party often supports workers' rights.
- She is a member of the New Democratic Party.
- In the 2011 election, the New Democratic Party achieved a historic breakthrough, becoming the Official Opposition.
- The New Democratic Party's platform emphasised pharmacare and climate action.
- While the New Democratic Party has its roots in democratic socialism and organised labour, its modern iterations have moderated certain economic policies to appeal to a broader electorate.
- The strategist posited that the New Democratic Party's success in the region was contingent upon mobilising both urban progressives and disaffected rural voters.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'NEW' ideas, 'DEMOCRATIC' processes, forming a 'PARTY' – specifically, Canada's main left-of-center political party.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS ARE JOURNEYS (e.g., 'The NDP's path to power'), ORGANIZATIONS ARE PERSONS (e.g., 'The NDP argues that...').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'New' as 'Новый' in isolation; 'New Democratic Party' is the fixed name 'Новая демократическая партия' but is best known by its acronym 'НДП'. Confusion may arise with the US Democratic Party ('Демократическая партия').
Common Mistakes
- Omitting the capitalisation ('new democratic party'), which changes it from a proper noun to a generic description.
- Confusing it with the US Democratic Party.
- Using 'the' incorrectly (e.g., 'He is in New Democratic Party' instead of 'in the New Democratic Party').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common acronym for the New Democratic Party?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are completely separate entities. The New Democratic Party (NDP) is a Canadian political party, while the Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States.
The 'New' signifies its founding in 1961 as a merger of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and the Canadian Labour Congress, intending to create a modern, renewed social democratic party for contemporary Canada.
It is traditionally described as a social democratic party, advocating for social justice, democratic socialism within a mixed economy, and strong social programs. While its roots are in socialism, its present platform is generally centre-left to left-wing.
Yes, but it is uncommon. Without capitalisation, 'a new democratic party' could describe any recently formed democratic political organization. However, due to the prominence of the Canadian party, the capitalised proper noun 'New Democratic Party' is vastly more frequent.