democratic socialism

American  

noun

1. socialism, or a modified form of socialism, achieved by a gradual transition by and under democratic political processes.

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Other Word Forms

• democratic socialist noun

Etymology

Origin of democratic socialism

First recorded in 1845–50

Compare meaning

How does democratic-socialism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• democratic socialism vs. socialism
• social democracy vs. democratic socialism
• social democrat vs. democratic socialism

Example Sentences

Once upon a time, adventurous theorists imagined that communism and capitalism might both end up adopting some version of democratic socialism, as a reformed Soviet Union and an increasingly welfare-state-oriented United States seemed to be converging on the Swedish model.

From Salon

In critiquing the Soviet system, moreover, Kennan recognized that democratic socialism was not the same thing: "No sane person has reason to doubt sincerity of moderate socialist leaders in Western countries. Nor is it fair to deny success of their efforts to improve conditions for working population whenever, as in Scandinavia, they have been given chance to show what they could do."

From Salon

Mr. Modrow headed the election campaign of the restyled communists, the Party of Democratic Socialism, but his personal popularity was not enough to prevent them finishing as only the third-strongest party, with 16 percent support.

From Washington Post

In the post-World War II era, that Scandinavian state became the symbol of democratic socialism.

From Salon

Raised as an evangelical Republican, Dajose spent a year in Copenhagen, where, she said, “democratic socialism is much more the norm.”

From Los Angeles Times