silent majority

noun

1. the U.S. citizens who supported President Nixon's policies but who were not politically vocal, outspoken, or active: considered by him to constitute a majority.
2. any group of people who are not outspoken and who are considered to constitute a majority.

silent majority

noun

1. a presumed moderate majority of the citizens who are too passive to make their views known

silent majority

1. A term used by President Richard Nixon to indicate his belief that the great body of Americans supported his policies and that those who demonstrated against the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War amounted to only a noisy minority.

Word History and Origins

Origin of silent majority¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Idioms and Phrases

A group that makes up a majority of voters but does not widely express its views through marches or demonstrations. For example, They thought they had a convincing case, but they hadn't counted on the silent majority . This idiom was first recorded in 1874 but gained currency in the 1960s, when President Richard Nixon claimed that his policies were supported by a majority of citizens who did not bother to make their views known.

Example Sentences

The great silent majority of future generations is rendered powerless and needs a voice.

From Vox

The intersection is essentially between the Brotherhood, the military, the revolutionaries, and the heretofore silent majority.

From The Daily Beast

And the more silent majority in the middle strikes me as mostly dismayed, but a little bit confused.

From The Daily Beast

Some conservative pundits gingerly discuss their hopes that a “silent majority” will come out to kick Obama out of office.

From The Daily Beast

They are also hoping that many fence sitters—a group Nakhle refers to as the “silent majority”—will also rally to the cause.

From The Daily Beast

Those well enough to read this article likely are in the vast silent majority of beneficiaries.

From The Daily Beast

But, if there was, I do not wish to address a determined and silent majority.

From Project Gutenberg

He can't jine anything, except what the newspapers call the 'silent majority.'

From Project Gutenberg

Then he pulled off his high-heeled boots and joined the silent majority.

From Project Gutenberg

Within a month the dramatist had joined the silent majority.

From Project Gutenberg