Demagogue

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /ˈdÉ›məɡɑɡ/, /ˈdÉ›məɡɔɡ/
• RP IPA: /ˈdÉ›məɡɒɡ/

Alternative forms

• demagog

Origin

From Ancient Greek δημαγωγός (demagogos, "popular leader, mob leader"), from δῆμος (demos, "people") + ἀγωγός (agogos, "guide").

Full definition of demagogue

Noun

1. (historical) A leader of the people.
2. (pejorative) A political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument.
• 1938, Aristophanes, , 424 BC, tr. O'Neill , lines 191-193,A demagogue must be neither an educated nor an honest man; he has to be an ignoramus and a rogue.
• 1949, S.I. Hayakawa, , p. ix,If the majority of our fellow-citizens are more susceptible to the slogans of fear and race hatred than to those of peaceful accommodation and mutual respect among human beings, our political liberties remain at the mercy of any eloquent and unscrupulous demagogue.
• 2004 December 4, Evan Thomas, Why It’s Time to Worry, '',It is true that America has a paranoid streak in its politics, and demagogues come along from time to time to feed on anger and resentment.

Derived terms

Related terms

• galactagogue
• ochlagogue
• pedagogue
• synagogue

Verb

1. (intransitive and transitive) To speak or act in the manner of a demagogue; to speak about (an issue) in the manner of a demagogue.
• circa 1938 Maury Maverick, , quoted in 1970, Richard B. Henderson, Maury Maverick: A Political Biography, page 183,I never demagogued on our serious questions and stood for civil liberties.
• 1995, Richard J. Carroll, An Economic Record of Presidential Performance: From Truman to Bush, page 171,On the subject of foreign aid, although it is a relatively unimportant economic category, it is an area of expenditure that has frequently been demagogued and has been a favorite target of politicians during tough times in the domestic economy.
• 2006, Patrick Hynes, In Defense of the Religious Right, page 194,Talk to anyone with half a brain (and at least half a heart) and they will tell you, regardless of their position, that this is an issue to be weighed, not demagogued.