Soft power
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Political influence that is extended by means of diplomacy, media, international assistance, cultural exchanges, etc., rather than by such "hard" means as military intervention or punitive economic measures. countable, uncountable
"Soft power is a country's cultural and ideological appeal. It is the ability to get desired outcomes through attraction instead of force."
- 2 A state having this kind of power. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"Soft power is a country's cultural and ideological appeal. It is the ability to get desired outcomes through attraction instead of force."
Etymology
Coined by American political scientist Joseph Nye in the late 1980s and popularized in the 1990 book “Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of American Power”.