socialism

[ soh-shuh-liz-uh m ]
/ ˈsoʊ ʃəˌlɪz əm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR socialism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.
(in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.
Compare utopian socialism.

Origin of socialism

First recorded in 1830–40; social + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM socialism

pre·so·cial·ism, noun sem·i·so·cial·ism, noun un·so·cial·ism, noun

Words nearby socialism

social war, social wasp, social welfare, social work, social-minded, socialism, socialist, socialist international, socialist labor party, socialist party, socialist realism

Content related to socialism

What’s The Difference Between Socialism vs. Communism? Do you know the difference between capitalism vs socialism vs communism? Angry Twitter users might not, but you can learn the difference.
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Words related to socialism

communism, collectivism, Maoism, Leninism, Bolshevism, Fabianism, Marxism

Example sentences from the Web for socialism

British Dictionary definitions for socialism

socialism
/ (ˈsəʊʃəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

an economic theory or system in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned by the community collectively, usually through the state. It is characterized by production for use rather than profit, by equality of individual wealth, by the absence of competitive economic activity, and, usually, by government determination of investment, prices, and production levels Compare capitalism
any of various social or political theories or movements in which the common welfare is to be achieved through the establishment of a socialist economic system
(in Leninist theory) a transitional stage after the proletarian revolution in the development of a society from capitalism to communism: characterized by the distribution of income according to work rather than need

Cultural definitions for socialism

socialism

An economic system in which the production and distribution of goods are controlled substantially by the government rather than by private enterprise, and in which cooperation rather than competition guides economic activity. There are many varieties of socialism. Some socialists tolerate capitalism, as long as the government maintains the dominant influence over the economy; others insist on an abolition of private enterprise. All communists are socialists, but not all socialists are communists.