English · Word Candidate

socialism

/ˈsoʊʃəlɪzəm/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: socialisms

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

Noun

Examples

Soil improvement often involves the movement of large quantities of earth, but the Chinese peasants face this task with a high degree of enthusiasm for socialism.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. — A system of social and economic equality in which there is no private property.

Noun

Examples

…Americans as a rule have no faith in the fundamental doctrine of socialism — no private property. To be sure, that fundamental doctrine is not expressly maintained in this program of the British Labor Party ; but all its proposals lead straight to the adoption by the nation of that doctrine…

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “socialism” mean?

Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

Is “socialism” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.