Dictionary

demagogue en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈdɛməɡɔɡ/ (General-American)
• /ˈdɛməɡɑɡ/ (General-American)
• /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle French démagogue, from Ancient Greek δημαγωγός (dēmagōgós, “popular leader, mob leader”), from δῆμος (dêmos, “people”) + ἀγωγός (agōgós, “guide”). By surface analysis, dem- + -agogue.

Meanings

1. (derogatory) A political orator or leader, especially in a democratic system, who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument.
   • It is true that America has a paranoid streak in its politics, and demagogues come along from time to time to feed on anger and resentment. 2010, Evan Thomas, Why It’s Time to Worry Newsweek:
   • 1938, O'Neill, translating The Knights by Aristophanes, 424 BC, lines 191-193, A demagogue must be neither an educated nor an honest man; he has to be an ignoramus and a rogue.
   • If the majority of our fellow-citizens are more susceptible to the slogans of fear and race hatred than to those of peaceful accommodation and mutual respect among human beings, our political liberties remain at the mercy of any eloquent and unscrupulous demagogue. 1949, S.I. Hayakawa, Language in Thought and Action, page ix:
   • What is a demagogue? He is a politician skilled in oratory, flattery and invective; evasive in discussing vital issues; promising everything to everybody; appealing to the passions rather than the reason of the public; and arousing racial, religious, and class prejudices—a man whose lust for power without recourse to principle leads him to seek to become a master of the masses. He has for centuries practiced his profession of 'man of the people'. He is a product of a political tradition nearly as old as western civilization itself. 1954, Reinhard Luthin, American Demagogues, page 3:
2. (historical) A leader of the people.

Forms

Deriveds

demagogic · demagocracy · demagogism · demagoguery · demagogracy · demagogical · demagogy

Relateds

ochlagogue · galactagogue · synagogue · pedagogue

Translations (64)

uk демаго́г ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · it demagogo ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · da demagog ((historical) a leader of the people) · ja 扇動 ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · nl volksopruier ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · ru демаго́г ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · gl demagogo ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · ko 군중 지도자 ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · sv demagog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · da demagog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · vi người mị dân ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · de Führer ((historical) a leader of the people) · fi kansankiihottaja ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · nl demagoog ((historical) a leader of the people) · ro demagogă ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · cmn 煽動者 /煽动者 ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · tr demagog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · gl demagoga ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · mk демаго́г ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · da folkeforfører ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · pl demagog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · bg демаго́г ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · el δημαγωγός ((historical) a leader of the people) · ru вождь ((historical) a leader of the people) · et demagoog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · nl volksleider ((historical) a leader of the people) · id demagog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · nn demagog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · pt demagogo ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · hu demagóg ((historical) a leader of the people) · gd ceannard gràisge ((historical) a leader of the people) · ar دَهْمَاوِيّ ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · el δημαγωγός ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · nl demagoog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · it duce ((historical) a leader of the people) · hu demagóg ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · ca demagog ((historical) a leader of the people) · sv folkledare ((historical) a leader of the people) · gd ceannard gràisge ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · de Demagogin ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · fr démagogue ((historical) a leader of the people) · ca demagog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · nb demagog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · az demaqoq ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · fi palopuhuja ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · de Demagoge ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · th ผู้นำฝูงชน ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · ar زَعِيم الدهماء ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · fi kansanjohtaja ((historical) a leader of the people) · es demagogo ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · grc δημαγωγός ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · no folkeleder ((historical) a leader of the people) · cs demagog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · ro demagog ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · ka დემაგოგი ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · eo demagogo ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · nl volksmenner ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · io demagogo ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · grc δημαγωγός ((historical) a leader of the people) · vi nịnh dân ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · ko 선동 정치가 ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · fi demagogi ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument) · cs demagog ((historical) a leader of the people) · fr démagogue ((pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument)

demagogue en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈdɛməɡɔɡ/ (General-American)
• /ˈdɛməɡɑɡ/ (General-American)
• /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle French démagogue, from Ancient Greek δημαγωγός (dēmagōgós, “popular leader, mob leader”), from δῆμος (dêmos, “people”) + ἀγωγός (agōgós, “guide”). By surface analysis, dem- + -agogue.

Meanings

1. (intransitive, transitive) To speak or act in the manner of a demagogue; to speak about (an issue) in the manner of a demagogue.
   • c. 1938, Maury Maverick, The New York Times, quoted in 1970, Richard B. Henderson, Maury Maverick: A Political Biography, page 183, I never demagogued on our serious questions and stood for civil liberties.
   • Fear-mongering, and demagoguing on the issue of immigrants, has been Mr. Trump’s preferred speed since he announced his first candidacy for the presidency in June 2015, and he has often found a receptive audience for it. 2024 September 11, Maggie Haberman, “‘The End of Our Country’: Trump Paints Dark Picture at Debate”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
   • Talk to anyone with half a brain (and at least half a heart) and they will tell you, regardless of their position, that this is an issue to be weighed, not demagogued. 2006, Patrick Hynes, In Defense of the Religious Right, page 194:
   • On the subject of foreign aid, although it is a relatively unimportant economic category, it is an area of expenditure that has frequently been demagogued and has been a favorite target of politicians during tough times in the domestic economy. 1995, Richard J. Carroll, An Economic Record of Presidential Performance: From Truman to Bush, page 171:

Forms

Translations (5)

el δημαγωγώ (speak or act in the manner of a demagogue) · nl demagogie gebruiken (speak or act in the manner of a demagogue) · fi paasata (speak or act in the manner of a demagogue) · nl demagogie bedrijven (speak or act in the manner of a demagogue) · nl volksmennen (speak or act in the manner of a demagogue)