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Synonyms

Maoism

American  
[mou-iz-uhm] / ˈmaʊ ɪz əm /

noun

  1. the political, social, economic, and military theories and policies advocated by Mao Zedong, as those concerning revolutionary movements and guerrilla warfare.

Maoism British  
/ ˈmaʊɪzəm /

noun

  1. Marxism-Leninism as interpreted by Mao Tse-tung: distinguished by its theory of guerrilla warfare and its emphasis on the revolutionary potential of the peasantry

  2. adherence to or reverence for Mao Tse-tung and his teachings

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Maoism Cultural  

  1. The doctrines of Mao Zedong, most notably the doctrine that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to be kept in touch with the people. (See Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.)

Other Word Forms

  • Maoist noun

Etymology

Origin of Maoism

First recorded in 1950–55; Mao (Zedong) ( def. ) + -ism

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The collapse of Maoism in Chhattisgarh, a stronghold of the insurgency, offers key clues to the movement's broader decline.

From BBC • May 27, 2025

In 1977, Lévy wrote “Barbarism With a Human Face,” in which he rejected Marxism and Maoism.

From New York Times • Feb. 28, 2023

Describe how Maoism reframed Marxism as an anti-imperialist revolution.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

“We’ve seen a lot of very extreme sentiment on China. Is it going back to Maoism? Is it investible?” said William Sterling, global strategist at GW&K Investment Management, which invests in emerging markets including China.

From Reuters • Nov. 2, 2021

In his eyes, Maoism, the form of communism developed by Chinese leader Mao Zedong, held intrigue, if not allure.

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2021

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.