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demagogue - 5 dictionary results

dem⋅a⋅gogue

  [dem-uh-gog, -gawg] noun, verb, -gogued, -gogu⋅ing.
Use demagogue in a Sentence
–noun
1. a person, esp. an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people.
2. (in ancient times) a leader of the people.
–verb (used with object)
3. to treat or manipulate (a political issue) in the manner of a demagogue; obscure or distort with emotionalism, prejudice, etc.
–verb (used without object)
4. to speak or act like a demagogue.
Also, dem⋅a⋅gog.

Origin:
1640–50; < Gk dēmagōgós a leader of the people, popular leader, equiv. to dêm(os) people + agōgós leading, guiding; see -agogue
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To demagogue
dem·a·gogue also dem·a·gog   (děm'ə-gôg', -gŏg')   
n.  
  1. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.
  2. A leader of the common people in ancient times.
tr.v.   dem·a·gogued also dem·a·goged, dem·a·gogu·ing also dem·a·go·ging, dem·a·gogues also dem·a·gogs
Usage Problem To speak about (an issue, for example) in the manner of a demagogue.

[Greek dēmagōgos, popular leader : dēmos, people; see dā- in Indo-European roots + agōgos, leading (from agein, to lead; see ag- in Indo-European roots).]
Usage Note: Among the nouns that the Usage Panel is loath to see used as a verb is demagogue, meaning "to speak about something in the manner of a demagogue." Ninety-four percent reject it in the sentence The President will demagogue Medicare, unwilling to acknowledge that fundamental reforms need to be made. Resistance to the use of traditional nouns as verbs is sometimes strong, especially when the novel usages are associated with business or bureaucratic jargon.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Demagogue

Dem"a*gogue\ (?; 115), n. [Gr. dhmagwgo`s a popular leader; commonly in a bad sense, a leader of the mob; dh^mos the people + 'agwgo`s leading, fr. 'a`gein to lead; akin to E. act: cf. F. d['e]magogue.] A leader of the rabble; one who attempts to control the multitude by specious or deceitful arts; an unprincipled and factious mob orator or political leader.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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demagogue [(dem-uh-gog, dem-uh-gawg)]

A politician who seeks to win and hold office by appeals to mass prejudice. Demagogues often use lies and distortion. (See Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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demagogue 
1648, from Gk. demagogos "leader of the people," from demos "people" (see demotic) + agogos "leader," from agein "to lead" (see act). A term of disparagement ever since it was first used in Athens, 5c. B.C.E.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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