grassroots
grassroots Lexical Profile
grassroots Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Originating among or carried out by ordinary citizens or local community members rather than central authorities or political elites.
"The environmental policy gained momentum through a dedicated grassroots campaign organized by neighborhood volunteers."
• noun
Ordinary people within a society or organization considered collectively as the foundational source of political, social, or economic influence.
"Party leaders traveled across the state to listen directly to the concerns of the grassroots."
The fundamental level, basic root cause, or essential foundation of a subject or activity.
"To improve national literacy rates, educators must address the issue at the grassroots of early childhood learning."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in late 19th-century American English from the literal phrase 'grass roots,' originally referring to the shallow soil layer just below the surface before evolving into a political metaphor for ordinary rural voters.