Demagogy: meaning, definitions and examples

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demagogy

 

[ หŒdษ›m.ษ™หˆษกษ‘ห.ษกi ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

political rhetoric

Demagogy refers to the use of emotional appeals and manipulative tactics by political leaders to gain power and influence. It often involves exploiting popular fears, prejudices, and desires, rather than presenting factual arguments or rational plans. This approach often seeks to provoke strong emotional responses from the audience, leading to heightened sentiments that can overshadow logical reasoning. Demagogy can be seen in various political climates, where leaders use propaganda, misinformation, or overly simplistic solutions to complex problems to rally support from the masses.

Synonyms

manipulation, persuasion, populism, rhetoric.

Examples of usage

  • The politician's speech was filled with demagogy, appealing to the crowd's fears.
  • Throughout history, demagogy has played a crucial role in shaping public opinion.
  • Voters must be cautious of demagogy during election campaigns.

Translations

Translations of the word "demagogy" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น demagogia

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคœเคจเคคเค‚เคคเฅเคฐเคตเคพเคฆ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Demagogie

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ demagogi

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดะตะผะฐะณะพะณั–ั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ demagogia

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒ‡ใƒžใ‚ดใ‚ฎใƒผ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท dรฉmagogie

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ demagogia

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท demagoji

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฏผ์ฃผ์ฃผ์˜์ž

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฏูŠู…ุงุบูˆุฌูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ demagogie

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ demagรณgia

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็…ฝๅŠจๆ€ง่จ€่ฎบ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ demagogija

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ demagรณgรญa

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะดะตะผะฐะณะพะณะธั

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ“แƒ”แƒ›แƒแƒ’แƒแƒ’แƒ˜แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ demagoji

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ demagogia

Etymology

The term 'demagogy' originates from the Greek word 'demagogos', meaning 'leader of the people'. It is composed of 'demos', meaning 'people', and 'agogos', meaning 'leader' or 'to lead'. The concept dates back to ancient Greece, where demagogues emerged as leaders who appealed to the common people, often using emotional rhetoric rather than logical arguments. This phenomenon was notably observed during the Athenian democracy, where certain leaders gained immense popularity through their ability to connect with the masses on sentimental issues. Over time, the term has evolved to carry a negative connotation, often associated with deceitful or manipulative political strategies that prioritize emotional appeal over rational discourse. The rise of mass communication in the 20th century further amplified the influence of demagogy, allowing leaders to reach broader audiences and employ similar tactics across various political contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,124, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.