Skip to main content
socialism

socialism

153 5.0
A system where the state or people own important businesses and services
  • noun
  • /ˈsoʊʃəlɪzəm/
: socialismo
  • Socialism advocates that the community should collectively own and control the means of production.
  • capitalism and socialism
  • socialism and communism
  • socialism and democracy

And as Lenin says, the goal of socialism is communism.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • We are alarmed by the new calls to adopt socialism in our country.

  • America hoped that China might become the first communist country to abandon socialism in favor of capitalism and democracy.

    Academic text (1999)
  • But I mean, it's the rise of socialism because people are afraid of risk.

  • Majority Leader, that sounds to me like socialism for the rich.

  • And I hear people talking about socialism on the left.

  • Are there any longer significant differences between left and right, and between socialism and capitalism?

    Academic text (1990)
  • Clearly, Syrian socialism has had its benefits for the Syrian people, but its time is past.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Today my greatest fear is the infusion of socialism in this country.

  • The father of Russian socialism, Alexander Gertzen, was their great champion.

  • I grew up mocking it, but democratic socialism sounded OK.

Synonyms

collectivism
vssocialism
7 7.9

A political idea where factories and farms are owned by the state

refers to an organized political and economic system rather than just a principle
socialist economy
vssocialism
2 5.1

A system where the state or community owns major businesses and resources instead of private owners

includes political theory as well as economic organization

Antonyms

235 3.8

A system where people or companies own businesses and property to make money

23 6.5

A belief that each person is independent and different from others

Compounds

national socialism
  • Offensive
5 9.4

A political belief that mixes extreme nationalism, racism, and dictatorship, linked to the Nazi Party in Germany

A system where the government owns most big businesses but allows small businesses to operate privately

1 8.5

A type of socialism that focuses on practical goals used in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

utopian socialism
  • Specialized
1 9.0

A belief that people can live equally by forming ideal communities and cooperating without revolution

1 8.2

A type of socialism that explains social and economic change by class struggle and uses facts

A time when many people support the government owning businesses and sharing money

guild socialism
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A political idea that says the state should own industry but groups of workers should run it

How Socialist

communism
190 5.0
socialism
153 5.0
mixed economy
  • Specialized
3 4.1
capitalism
235 3.8

Surface Forms

socialism singular
socialisms plural

Morphology

socialism = social (transparent) = social + ism

The noun is a standard formation from the adjective 'social' with '-ism' denoting an ideology or system, so the meaning follows directly.

Etymology

The word socialism comes from social, which in turn comes from the old Latin word socius meaning 'companion' or 'partner'. So, socialism is the idea of people acting 'together' and 'sharing' control of businesses and services for the community.