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governmentalism

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

IPA: /ɡəˈvɜːrn.mənt.əl.ɪ.zəm/

KK: /gəˈvɪrnˌmɛntəlɪzəm/

noun
Definition

A belief or theory that supports increasing the power and responsibilities of government in society.


Example

The political party promoted governmentalism as a way to address social issues more effectively.


Conversation
Sloth A
Have you ever heard about governmentalism?
Sloth B
Yeah, I think it's about how much power the government should have.
Sloth A
Right! Some people believe it should be more active in our lives.
Sloth B
I can see both sides, but it can get a bit overwhelming sometimes.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
statism
interventionism
collectivism
Antonyms
libertarianism
anarchism
individualism
Root Explanation

Governmentalism is formed from "government" (from Old French *governer*, meaning to direct or control) and "-alism" (a suffix indicating a practice or system). The term refers to a system or practice of governance.

Memory Tip

Think of 'government' as the act of directing or controlling, and '-alism' as a system or practice. This helps you remember that 'governmentalism' refers to a system of governance.

Visually Confused Words
ornamentalism
oversentimentalism
nongovernmental
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