grassroots
/ˌɡrɑːsˈruːts/ (bre, ipa) · [ɡrˈæsrˈuts] /ˌɡræsˈruːts/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈɡrɑːs.ruːts/ (bre, ipa) · [ɡrˈæsrˈuts] /ˈɡræs.ruːts/ (ame, ipa) · [ɡrˈæsrˈuts] /ˈgras-ˌrüts -ˌru̇ts/ (ame, mw)
grassroots — noun
1. The ordinary members of a community, organization, or society — as opposed to it
The ordinary members of a community, organization, or society — as opposed to its leaders or official decision-makers. In political contexts, this refers to voters and local party members whose combined views and energy are thought to form the real basis of support.
The party's new housing policy was shaped by feedback from the grassroots.
shaped by + the grassroots (passive source)
Kofi spent two years working at the grassroots before running for office himself.
working at the grassroots
Leaders who ignore the grassroots often lose touch with what voters truly care about.
Support for the new law grew from the grassroots upward, not from top party leaders.
The organization needed money and volunteers, so it turned to the grassroots for help.
- rank and file
focuses on the ordinary members of an organization rather than society at large
- ordinary people
broader, less political connotation
- common people
more formal or dated, with a class-based tone
- the base
shorter, used especially in business and political strategy
- leadership
the people who make decisions, as opposed to the ordinary members
- establishment
the powerful groups in control, contrasted with grassroots movements
文法句型
the + grassroots + verb (plural)
at the grassroots
用法筆記
Treated as a plural group noun in British English ('the grassroots are…'), but sometimes treated as singular in American English ('the grassroots is…'). Follows 'the' in most contexts.
常見錯誤
grassroots — adjective
- grassrootspositive
- more grassrootscomparative
- most grassrootssuperlative
1. Happening at or coming from the level of everyday citizens or group members, rat
Happening at or coming from the level of everyday citizens or group members, rather than being directed by leaders or official channels. Used to describe efforts, campaigns, or organizations built on local participation rather than top-down control.
The environmental group started as a small grassroots movement in a single town.
grassroots movement
Lucía organized a grassroots campaign to raise money for the local library.
grassroots campaign
A grassroots effort by the residents saved the old park from being sold to developers.
Unlike the national strategy, this grassroots plan relied on neighbors helping each other.
The mayor praised the grassroots volunteers who kept the community clean during the festival.
- community-based
places more emphasis on local community than on ordinary people vs. leaders
- bottom-up
stresses the direction of decision-making from lower levels upward
- local
simpler and more general, not tied to political organization
- top-down
describing decisions or control coming from senior leaders
- centralized
concentrated in one central authority rather than spread among local groups
文法句型
grassroots + noun (movement/campaign/support/organization)
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive). You can say 'a grassroots organization' but not 'This organization is grassroots.'
常見錯誤
2. At the simplest or most essential level; forming the foundation on which everyth
At the simplest or most essential level; forming the foundation on which everything else depends. Unlike the political use of the word, this sense does not refer to people — it describes the core ideas, elements, or principles of a system.
The training course covers the grassroots principles of emergency first aid.
grassroots principles
The coach insisted the team master passing and positioning at the grassroots level before trying advanced plays.
at the grassroots level (most basic/fundamental)
Understanding supply and demand is a grassroots concept in economics.
The book explains the grassroots ideas that shaped modern democratic systems.
- basic
simpler and more common in everyday language
- fundamental
stresses that something is essential and cannot be removed
- foundational
suggests that other things are built on top of this level
- advanced
beyond the basic level
- sophisticated
complex and developed, opposite of simple and foundational
文法句型
grassroots + noun (level/issue/principle)
用法筆記
Much less common than the political sense (adj/1). It is effectively interchangeable with 'basic' or 'fundamental' and may sound slightly old-fashioned or journalistic.