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Glite Dictionary
protectionist

protectionist

15 7.4
A person who wants to limit goods from other countries to help local businesses
  • noun
  • /prəˈtɛkʃənɪst/
  • Literature
: proteccionista
  • Many voters see the candidate as a protectionist because of his commitment to limiting imports to promote local manufacturing.
  • protectionist measures
  • protectionist policy
  • protectionist pressures

He was always much, much more hawkish on US China relations, much more anti free trade absolutism, much more pro protectionist, much more pro US manufacturing.

Examples

  • Mexican populists and U.S. protectionists continue to bridle at the supposed loss of sovereignty, jobs, and investment.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Trump is a protectionist in many ways.

  • America had been highly protectionist after the war.

  • There is still a very strong protectionist view within the labor unions.

    Academic text (1990)

  • But Donald Trump's protectionist policies against China could help.

  • If it adopts protectionist measures, other countries will be encouraged to do so, too.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Despite its status as a major exporter, Brazil is one of the most protectionist economies in the world.

    Academic text (2012)

  • International competition has stiffened, which has led to the erection of protectionist barriers.

    Academic text (1993)

  • The Conservatives, under the dynamic influence of Joseph Chamberlain, Neville's father, had turned protectionist early in the century.

    Academic text (2011)

  • If integration efforts in Europe prove costly, and if growth remains sluggish, protectionist sentiments may intensify.

    Academic text (1993)

Antonyms

free trader
4 3.9

A person who supports trade between countries without import taxes or other barriers

How Protectionist

protectionist
  • Literature
15 7.4
free trader
4 3.9

Surface Forms

protectionist singular
protectionists plural

Morphology

protectionist = protection (transparent) = protect + ion + ist

Formed by adding the agentive suffix '-ist' to 'protection'; the meaning 'person who supports protectionist policies' follows directly from the base.

Etymology

Protectionist comes from protect, meaning 'keep safe', and the ending -ist, meaning 'a person who does or believes something', as in artist. So a protectionist is someone who wants to keep their country's businesses safe by limiting foreign goods.