incrementalism

[ in-kruh-men-tl-iz-uhm, ing- ]

noun

1. a policy of making changes, especially social changes, by degrees; gradualism.

Other Words From

• incre·mental·ist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of incrementalism¹

First recorded in 1965–70; incremental ( def ) + -ism

Example Sentences

Ben Richmond, senior director of operations, podcasts Who you are voting for this year: Kamala Harris Why: Bureaucratic incrementalism might not be my ideal government, but it sure beats “One man’s list of personal grievances, plus whatever weird Christian nationalism the most sycophantic creeps in America can sneak in.”

From Slate

This is no time for incrementalism.”

From Salon

Incrementalism isn’t a dirty word.

From Slate

Such incrementalism is bound to frustrate everyone — certainly Palestinians who yearn for statehood as well as right-wing Israelis who resist any thought of rebuilding Gaza, but also the Biden administration, which would prefer a big win in this election year.

From Los Angeles Times

"We're arguing for radical incrementalism: achieving massive change through small, short-term steps. And we're offering a much-needed contrast to many other climate scenarios, which may be more aligned with the status quo, which isn't working."

From Science Daily