popular front: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

It is capitalised (Popular Front) when used as the proper name of a specific historical alliance, e.g., the French Popular Front. In generic use ('a popular front strategy'), it is lowercased.

In Marxist theory, a 'united front' is an alliance of working-class parties (e.g., communists and socialists), while a 'popular front' is broader, including middle-class and liberal bourgeois parties. In general usage, the terms are often used interchangeably.

Yes, the term can be applied to contemporary broad coalitions, such as electoral alliances between green, socialist, and liberal parties against a populist or far-right threat, though it retains its historical connotations.

Typically, yes. It is centred on left-wing and centrist groups. A broad coalition including conservative elements would generally not be called a popular front; other terms like 'grand coalition' or 'national unity government' might be used.

A political alliance of different left-wing, centrist, and sometimes liberal or moderate groups, typically including socialists, communists, liberals, and democrats, formed to oppose a common enemy such as fascism or authoritarianism, and to achieve shared electoral or social goals.

Popular front is usually formal, academic, political, historical in register.

Popular front: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɒp.jə.lə ˈfrʌnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɑː.pjə.lɚ ˈfrʌnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.