grassroots movement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grassroots movement" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a type of social or political movement that originates from the community level, often involving ordinary people rather than established leaders or organizations. Example: "The grassroots movement for environmental protection gained momentum as more citizens became aware of climate change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

'We're the same grassroots movement.

The Guardian - Music

"It's not really a grassroots movement".

The Guardian

A new grassroots movement was born.

The Guardian - Opinion

A grassroots movement, Mr. Joseph said.

The New York Times

It's just big politics hiding behind a grassroots movement.

The New Yorker

But recently a new grassroots movement has emerged.

The New Yorker

This grassroots movement for water exists, but could be stronger.

The Guardian

A 21st-century grassroots movement faces many pitfalls.

The Guardian - Opinion

He needs to unleash his grassroots movement, Momentum, right away.

The Guardian - Opinion

Again, John, the Tea Party is a real grassroots movement.

University of California, Berkeley

Most importantly, Zelenskiy does not lead any grassroots movement.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing political or social change, use the phrase "grassroots movement" to emphasize the organic and community-driven nature of the initiative, distinguishing it from top-down or externally funded efforts.

Common error

Avoid labeling a campaign as a "grassroots movement" if it's primarily funded or driven by external organizations or elites. Using the term inaccurately can damage credibility and create mistrust.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grassroots movement" functions primarily as a noun phrase. As shown in the Ludwig examples, it identifies a type of social or political activity originating from local communities. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grassroots movement" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase, particularly in news and media, to describe community-driven initiatives for social or political change. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct. While alternatives like "community-driven effort" and "bottom-up initiative" exist, using "grassroots movement" effectively communicates the organic and authentic nature of the action. To avoid misuse, ensure the described movement genuinely originates from the community rather than being artificially manufactured or externally funded. This makes this phrase extremely popular.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grassroots campaign

Directly related, but it specifies the initiative as a campaign, for example a social or political campaign.

community-driven effort

Highlights the community's role as the main actor and driver of the effort.

bottom-up initiative

Focuses on the origin of the initiative, emphasizing its rise from the base level rather than top-down direction.

citizen-led campaign

Emphasizes the role of ordinary citizens in leading and organizing the campaign.

people's movement

Simple and generic synonym for a movement made by people for people

groundswell of support

Refers to a rapidly growing and widespread increase in support for a particular cause or idea.

popular uprising

Implies a larger scale and potentially more forceful expression of public will.

base-level mobilization

Highlights the mobilization aspect, referring to the gathering and organization of support at the foundational level.

local activism

Focuses on the local scope and active participation within a community.

community action

Emphasizes action and focuses on specific projects for community improvement.

FAQs

How can I use "grassroots movement" in a sentence?

You can use "grassroots movement" to describe a social or political movement driven by community members, such as "The environmental bill was passed thanks to a strong "grassroots campaign".".

What's the difference between a "grassroots movement" and a "popular movement"?

While both involve widespread participation, a "grassroots movement" specifically emphasizes bottom-up organization and community-level origins, whereas a "popular movement" is defined by widespread support, regardless of its origins.

What can I say instead of "grassroots movement"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "community-driven effort", "bottom-up initiative", or "citizen-led campaign".

Is it always positive to describe something as a "grassroots movement"?

While often connoting authenticity and community support, the term "grassroots movement" can also be used critically to question the true origins and funding of a campaign, especially if it appears to be artificially manufactured.