Extremism

/ɪkˈstrɪmɪzəm/

nounmediumVery CommonGeneral

Definitions

1

The advocacy or resort to measures beyond the norm; the holding of extreme political or religious views.

/ɪkˈstrɪmɪzəm/

nounnegativemedium
General

The holding of extreme political or religious views; fanaticism.

The rise of extremism poses a significant threat to global stability.

💡 Simply: Imagine someone taking their beliefs way too far, like when a sports fan gets so into a game that they start causing trouble. That's a form of extremism – going to an extreme with your opinions.

👶 For kids: When people have very, very strong feelings about something, and they act on them in a way that's not fair or kind.

More Examples

2

The organization actively combats all forms of extremism.

3

He was accused of promoting extremism through his inflammatory rhetoric.

How It's Used

Political Science

"The government is struggling to combat extremism and radicalization within the population."

Sociology

"Studies show a correlation between social inequality and the rise of extremism."

News and Media

"News outlets often report on the spread of extremism online."

Idioms & expressions

Combating Extremism

The act of fighting or working against extremist ideologies and activities.

"Governments and international organizations are working together to combat extremism through various strategies."

Political Extremism

Extreme political ideologies, often advocating for radical change and social upheaval.

"The rise of political extremism is a concern for many democracies around the world."

From French *extrémisme*, from *extrême* ('extreme'), from Latin *extremus* ('farthest, outermost'). The term gained prominence in political discourse during the 20th century.

The term gained traction in the 20th century as a way to describe radical political movements, especially during times of social and political upheaval. Early uses were often associated with far-right and far-left ideologies.

Memory tip

Think of the 'extreme' end of a spectrum of beliefs and actions.

extreemismextremisim

Usage

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