activism

noun

ac·​tiv·​ism ˈak-ti-ˌvi-zəm How to pronounce activism (audio)
: a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue
political activism
environmental activism

Examples of activism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments. Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 12 July 2025 Greg Mingo, a graduate of P.E.I. who received clemency from then Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2021, after forty years of incarceration, has spent the time since his release engaged in activism on behalf of the incarcerated and the recently released. Brooke Allen, New Yorker, 12 July 2025 The association also highlighted a video in which Canary Mission encouraged people to report those engaging in pro-Palestinian activism and threaten their job prospects. Kimmy Yam, NBC news, 9 July 2025 When the Wedbush Securities tech analyst lobbied Tesla’s board to erect guardrails against Elon Musk spending too much time on his political activism, the CEO’s response was immediate and dismissive. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for activism

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Aktivismus, from aktiv active entry 1 + -ismus -ism

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of activism was in 1915

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Activism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/activism. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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