Demagoguery
noun /ˈdem.ə.ɡɒɡ.ər.i/ — Political appeal through prejudice and emotion over reason
Definition
Political activity or practice that appeals to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than using rational argument — using emotion, fear, and group identity to gain power.
Beyond the definition
The corruption of oratory. Demagoguery uses the tools of rhetoric to bypass reason and reach for something more volatile: fear, grievance, and the desire to belong.
Origin & history
From Greek 'dēmagōgos' — 'dēmos' (people) + 'agōgos' (leading). One who leads the people — with all the positive and negative implications that contains.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The historian identified demagoguery wherever she found leaders who appealed to fear rather than interest.
Demagoguery is not incompetent oratory — it is oratory deployed against the audience's better judgment.
Understanding the techniques of demagoguery is the first step in becoming resistant to them.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Demagoguery” when the meaning fits your context: Political activity or practice that appeals to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than using rational argument — using emotion, fear, and group identity to gain power.
Synonyms
rabble-rousing, populism, agitation, manipulation
Antonyms
statesmanship, rational discourse
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Dominant Power Exclusion
Two adults stand in a room; the dominant one stands tall and points, while the other looks down, excluded from the decision-making process.
Demagoguery involves gaining power by appealing to prejudices rather than rational argument. This visual of a power imbalance—where one individual asserts dominance while the other is sidelined—illustrates the exclusionary and manipulative nature of such practices, showing how control is maintained through social positioning rather than through balanced, shared, and rational discussion.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Demagoguery" mean?
Demagoguery is noun meaning: Political appeal through prejudice and emotion over reason. Political activity or practice that appeals to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than using rational argument — using emotion, fear, and group identity to gain power.
Where does the word "Demagoguery" come from?
From Greek 'dēmagōgos' — 'dēmos' (people) + 'agōgos' (leading). One who leads the people — with all the positive and negative implications that contains.