grassroot

USAGE SUMMARY

'grassroot' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is used to describe a movement, organization, or activity that is initiated and maintained by ordinary people, especially those at a local or community level. Example sentence: The grassroot petition quickly gathered thousands of signatures from the local community.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Other large organisations such as Standard Chartered, Barclays and Nike have started or funded projects, joining a slew of grassroots initiatives (Grassroot Soccer, The Jala Pelo Foundation or Women Win) and those started by sporting bodies such as Fifa.

The Guardian

The AFL-CIO, an umbrella group, has a budget of $53m for grassroot activities related to the election.

The Economist

Getting out the vote for the local elections in May is of special importance to parties this year as the results could be a guide to the grassroot strengths of potential candidates for the presidential election in 1998.Cockfighting every Sunday is as much a part of national life as cricket is to an Englishman.

The Economist

Nor will it disturb her grassroot supporters, who now argue that the party deserves a formal place in the coalition government after the next election in 2009.

The Economist

"Who's to say a grassroot political worker doesn't represent public opinion?" Ms Thakur said, though she admitted that some of the members "do exceed their brief, and many need to be sensitized through workshops so that cinema and art is allowed to push the envelope".

The New York Times

I still think it is civil movements that create change: from the abolition of slavery to the cancellation of developing world debt, it has been grassroot movements that have led the charge.

The Guardian - Opinion

Other grassroot Muslim activists, however, fear the oxygen of negative publicity trailing the high-profile Yerima, coming most vocally from non-Muslims, could trigger a backlash among conservative, rural Muslims.

The Guardian

The Democrats are relying on grassroot mobilisation and union organisation.

The Guardian

Go direct to grassroot organisations.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

(We are to assume, needless to say, that John McCain and Sarah Palin are as grassrooted as Republicans can be).

The New York Times

He told China Daily:  "Until now, the top 100 'grassroot' accounts have created profits of about 20m yuan (£1.92m) from advertisements since they opened their accounts".

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "grassroot" with specific nouns to add clarity. For example, "grassroot movement", "grassroot organization", or "grassroot support".

Common error

Remember that "grassroot" is an adjective. Use "grassroots" (plural) as a noun to refer to the fundamental level or source of something, like "the grassroots of the party".

Linguistic Context

The term "grassroot" functions primarily as an adjective. According to Ludwig AI, it modifies nouns to indicate that something originates from or is related to the fundamental or local level of a community or organization. This is evident in phrases like "grassroot initiatives" or "grassroot supporters."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grassroot" is an adjective used to describe initiatives or movements that originate from the base level of a community. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's commonly found in news and media contexts and serves to emphasize local involvement and authenticity. Remember to use "grassroots" as a noun when referring to the ordinary people forming the base of a movement. Using synonyms like "community-based" or "bottom-up" can offer alternative ways to express similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bottom-up

Emphasizes that the initiative starts from the base level and moves upward.

citizen-led

Emphasizes that the initiative is driven by ordinary citizens.

community-based

Focuses on the local community as the foundation or origin.

people-powered

Emphasizes the power and involvement of ordinary people.

community driven

Highlights the community's central role in initiating and managing the activity.

local initiative

Highlights the local origin and nature of the effort.

on-the-ground

Implies direct and practical involvement at the local level.

popular movement

Highlights that a movement is built around popular or widespread support.

homegrown

Implies that something originates locally and naturally.

district level

Highlights the local or district scope of an operation or organization.

FAQs

How can I use "grassroot" in a sentence?

The term "grassroot" is typically used as an adjective to describe initiatives, movements, or organizations that originate from the local level. For example, "The project gained strong "community support" because of its grassroot nature".

What's the difference between "grassroot" and "grassroots"?

"Grassroot" is an adjective used to describe something originating from the base level of a community or organization. "Grassroots" is a noun that refers to the ordinary people who form the basis of a movement or organization. For example, "The "grassroots movement" gained momentum quickly".

What can I say instead of "grassroot"?

Alternatives to "grassroot" include "community-based", "bottom-up", or "local initiative". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "grassroot level"?

While "grassroot level" is commonly used, it can be considered redundant since "grassroot" already implies a base or local level. Using just "grassroot" (as an adjective) or "grassroots" is often more concise and grammatically sound.