students for a democratic society: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (historical/political context)Formal, Academic, Historical, Political
Quick answer
What does “students for a democratic society” mean?
A specific, historically significant left-wing student activist organization in the United States (1960–1974), often abbreviated SDS.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific, historically significant left-wing student activist organization in the United States (1960–1974), often abbreviated SDS.
Refers to the political organization, its members, its ideology (participatory democracy, anti-war, civil rights), and its lasting cultural and political legacy in modern discussions of student activism and radical politics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily an American historical reference. In British contexts, it is used academically when discussing US history or global 1960s movements. British equivalents might be referenced (e.g., specific university socialist societies) but are not called "Students for a Democratic Society."
Connotations
US: Strong connotations of 1960s radicalism, protest, and a specific chapter in US political history. UK: Typically understood only as a reference to that specific US organization.
Frequency
Virtually exclusive to American English in common usage; in British English, it appears almost solely in historical or political studies texts about America.
Grammar
How to Use “students for a democratic society” in a Sentence
[Students for a Democratic Society] + [past tense verb] e.g., 'organized, protested, issued'[The ideology] + [of Students for a Democratic Society][A chapter] + [of Students for a Democratic Society]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “students for a democratic society” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The group was largely inspired by the principles Students for a Democratic Society had championed.
American English
- They aimed to Students for a Democratic Society the campus, but the administration resisted.
adverb
British English
- [Not typically used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not typically used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The Students for a Democratic Society manifesto influenced a generation.
American English
- His politics had a strong Students for a Democratic Society vibe.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in history, political science, and sociology texts discussing 20th-century US social movements.
Everyday
Rare, except in discussions about history or politics.
Technical
Used as a specific term in historical and political analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “students for a democratic society”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “students for a democratic society”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “students for a democratic society”
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'We are students for a democratic society' meaning any group of students).
- Confusing it with modern, unrelated student groups with similar vague names.
- Misspelling as 'Student for a Democratic Society' (singular).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The original SDS dissolved in 1974. The name has been revived by smaller, newer groups, but they are not the same historical organization.
SDS is the standard abbreviation for Students for a Democratic Society.
Its core goal, outlined in the Port Huron Statement, was to advance the principles of participatory democracy and oppose social injustices like the Vietnam War and racial segregation.
No. Because it is the proper name of a famous organization, using it in lowercase as a generic description is confusing and incorrect. Use phrases like 'a group of students advocating for democracy' instead.
A specific, historically significant left-wing student activist organization in the United States (1960–1974), often abbreviated SDS.
Students for a democratic society is usually formal, academic, historical, political in register.
Students for a democratic society: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstjuː.dənts fər ə ˌdem.əˈkræt.ɪk ˈsɒ.sə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstuː.dənts fɚ ə ˌdem.əˈkræt̬.ɪk ˈsɑː.sə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not applicable for proper noun of an organization]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: STUDENTS who wanted a more DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY in the 1960s. The acronym S.D.S. is shorter and key.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SYMBOL OF YOUTHFUL IDEALISM AND PROTEST.
Practice
Quiz
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) is primarily associated with which era and country?