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.
Socialism
/ˈsoʊʃəlɪzəm/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.
- Grammar: socialism is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: centralism, collective farm, collective ownership, collectivism.
- Useful contrasts: classical liberal, capitalism, conservatism.
- Usage evidence: "What?" Pharamp asked. "Nothing," Sysko lied, "we were talking about the effect of Confucianism on modern Chinese socialism."
How to use "socialism"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "socialism" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "socialism" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "socialism" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "socialism" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "socialism" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "centralism" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "socialism", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. uncountable, usually
"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."
- 2 a political theory advocating state ownership of industry wordnet
- 3 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. uncountable, usually
"…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…"
- 4 an economic system based on state ownership of capital wordnet
- 5 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 or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state. uncountable, usually
"Socialism is usually defined as "common ownership of the means of production". Crudely: the State, representing the whole nation, owns everything, and everyone is a State employee. This does not mean that people are stripped of private possessions such as clothes and furniture, but it does mean that all productive goods, such as land, mines, ships and machinery, are the property of the State... One must also add the following: approximate equality of incomes (it need be no more than approximate), political democracy, and abolition of all hereditary privilege, especially in education. These are simply the necessary safeguards against the reappearance of a class-system."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 The intermediate phase of social development between capitalism and communism in Marxist theory in which the state has control of the means of production. uncountable, usually
"For me, socialism is not statism, or the collective ownership of the means of production. It is a judgment on the priorities of economic policy…the community takes precedence over the individual in legitimate economic policy. The first lien on the resources of a society therefore should be to establish that "social minimum" which would allow individuals to lead a life of self-respect, to be members of the community."
- 7 Any of a group of later political philosophies such democratic socialism and social democracy which do not envisage the need for full state ownership of the means of production nor transition to full communism, and which are typically based on principles of community decision making, social equality and the avoidance of economic and social exclusion, with economic policy giving first preference to community goals over individual ones. uncountable, usually
- 8 Any left-wing ideology, government regulations, or policies promoting a welfare state, nationalisation, etc. US, colloquial, derogatory, often, uncountable, usually
"I have used the term "liberal solidarity". It needs to stake out its ideological territory and to debate not only with socialism and conservatism, but with other varieties of liberalism."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
""What?" Pharamp asked. "Nothing," Sysko lied, "we were talking about the effect of Confucianism on modern Chinese socialism.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "socialism"?
Common synonyms include: centralism, collective farm, collective ownership, collectivism, collectivism, collectivity.
How do you use "socialism" in a sentence?
"What?" Pharamp asked. "Nothing," Sysko lied, "we were talking about the effect of Confucianism on modern Chinese socialism."
How do you pronounce "socialism"?
Pronounced /ˈsoʊʃəlɪzəm/.
Etymology
Attested since 1832; either from French socialisme or from social + -ism.