adj
Uncommon
grassroots
GRAHS-roots
Grassroots (adj) means coming from ordinary people at a local level, rather than from leaders or organizations at the top. Example: “The campaign was powered by grassroots volunteers, not big donors.”
adj
1
Coming from ordinary people at a local level, rather than from leaders or organizations at the top.
"The campaign was powered by grassroots volunteers, not big donors."
"It started as a grassroots movement before spreading nationwide."
How to use grassroots
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something started and driven by everyday people rather than officials or big organizations.
Common pairings
grassroots movement
grassroots support
grassroots level
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more grassroots
- Superlative
- most grassroots
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The campaign was powered by _____ volunteers, not big donors.
Etymology
From grass + roots — the image of roots at the base of a plant, i.e. the ordinary base of society.
Rhymes for grassroots
See all rhymes for grassroots →Frequently asked questions
What does “grassroots” mean?
The word “grassroots” means coming from ordinary people at a local level, rather than from leaders or organizations at the top. In plain terms, describes something started and driven by everyday people rather than officials or big organizations.
How do you pronounce “grassroots”?
“Grassroots” is pronounced GRAHS-roots (/ˈɡɹæs.ɹuːts/ in IPA).
How do you use “grassroots” in a sentence?
Here is “grassroots” used in a sentence: “The campaign was powered by grassroots volunteers, not big donors.”
What part of speech is “grassroots”?
“Grassroots” is an adjective.
Is “grassroots” a common word?
“Grassroots” is an uncommon word in modern English.
