Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The use of direct, often confrontational action, such as a demonstration or strike, in opposition to or support of a cause.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun a policy of taking direct and militant action to achieve a political or social goal.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The practice of using action to achieve a result, such as political demonstration or a strike in support of or in opposition to an issue.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a policy of taking direct and militant action to achieve a political or social goal

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

active +‎ -ism

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Examples

  • Updated 11: 06: Sen. Feingold is now attacking the activism of the Roberts Court, while noting that there appears to be no fixed definition of the term \ "judicial activism\" other than \ "having opinions one does not like.

    Doug Kendall: Liveblogging the Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings 2009

  • The term activism by Mark Sashine on Monday, Aug 31, 2009 at 9: 14: 05 AM

    The Problem of Cosmetic Activism 2009

  • "Their policy is playing to the [Kenyan public] gallery, which we call activism diplomacy," he said, calling the warnings on travel bans part of "a big bully blackmail system."

    U.S. Ups Criticism, Pressure On Kenya Sarah Childress 2010

  • "Their policy is playing to the [Kenyan public] gallery, which we call activism diplomacy," he said, calling the warnings on travel bans part of "a big bully blackmail system."

    U.S. Ups Criticism, Pressure On Kenya Sarah Childress 2010

  • And, unfortunately, that's what you call activism, judicial activism.

    CNN Transcript Sep 14, 2005 2005

  • Their 'activism' is far more detrimental to America than Acorn ever was. russell

    FRC spot looks to tie public option to abortion funding 2009

  • But since he's a conservative, that kind of activism is okay with the right because it's their kind of activism, proving again the axiom, IOKIYAR (It's Okay If You're A Republican).

    November 2005 2005

  • Oh, to be a young believer in Philadelphia right now, where the spirit of Christian activism is mingling vigorously with an apparently unkillable strain of old-school countercultural Jesus-freakery.

    Sing to the Lord a New Song 2009

  • This requires a radical reduction in activism-related flying.

    Joseph Nevins: Flying & Activism Joseph Nevins 2010

  • This requires a radical reduction in activism-related flying.

    Joseph Nevins: Flying & Activism Joseph Nevins 2010

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