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statism

American  
[stey-tiz-uhm] / ˈsteɪ tɪz əm /

noun

  1. the principle or policy of concentrating extensive economic, political, and related controls in the state at the cost of individual liberty.

  2. support of or belief in the sovereignty of a state, usually a republic.


statism British  
/ ˈsteɪtɪzəm /

noun

  1. the theory or practice of concentrating economic and political power in the state, resulting in a weak position for the individual or community with respect to the government

"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

Other Word Forms

  • antistatism noun

Etymology

Origin of statism

First recorded in 1600–10; state + -ism

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.

Mr Dowden also denied criticism the alert was an example of nanny statism as he appeared on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuennssberg programme.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2023

Her answer to her book’s title — “What Ails France?” — is a “righteous consensus,” the statism that “asphyxiates the country’s potential.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 15, 2022

Each tactic smells of nanny statism, a metaphor embellished by the fact that the formerly straw-punctured lids of Starbucks iced lattes are being replaced with a high-design, disposable iteration of a cup for babies.

From Slate • Jul. 11, 2018

Ms. Park said she had tried to broaden discussions by investigating the roles that patriarchal societies, statism and poverty played in the recruitment of comfort women.

From New York Times • Dec. 18, 2015

First, that the coalition government has no intention of leaving itself open to accusations of nanny statism, and second, that it will not upset business.

From The Guardian • Jul. 12, 2013