socialism

[soh-shuh-liz-uhm]

noun

1. a theory or system of social organization that advocates the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, capital, land, etc., by the community as a whole, usually through a centralized government.

2. procedure or practice in accordance with this theory.

3. (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.

socialism

/ ˈsəʊʃəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. an economic theory or system in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned by the community collectively, usually through the state. It is characterized by production for use rather than profit, by equality of individual wealth, by the absence of competitive economic activity, and, usually, by government determination of investment, prices, and production levels Compare capitalism

2. any of various social or political theories or movements in which the common welfare is to be achieved through the establishment of a socialist economic system

3. (in Leninist theory) a transitional stage after the proletarian revolution in the development of a society from capitalism to communism: characterized by the distribution of income according to work rather than need

socialism

1. An economic system in which the production and distribution of goods are controlled substantially by the government rather than by private enterprise, and in which cooperation rather than competition guides economic activity. There are many varieties of socialism. Some socialists tolerate capitalism, as long as the government maintains the dominant influence over the economy; others insist on an abolition of private enterprise. All communists are socialists, but not all socialists are communists.

Other Word Forms

• presocialism noun
• semisocialism noun
• unsocialism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of socialism¹

First recorded in 1830–40; social + -ism

Example Sentences

"If socialism is government owning the means of production," he wrote on X, "wouldn't the government owning part of Intel be a step toward socialism?"

From BBC

She said her early experiences in Nigeria shaped her political outlook, including "why I don't like socialism".

From BBC

To them, he is a savior who can help ward off the threat of radical left socialism.

From Salon

The institutions are still robust enough, we tell each other, and it’s foolish and destructive to talk about socialism or police abolition or a radical restructuring of society.

From Salon

“The holy grail of taboos in American politics,” the interviewer says, “which include socialism, Islam and Palestine. You are really going for the trifecta. Tell me, why is Palestine a part of your politics?”

From Salon

Related Words

• communism 

When To Use

What does socialism mean?

Socialism is an ideology or system based on the collective, public ownership and control of the resources used to make and distribute goods or provide services. This involves ownership of such things not by private individuals but by the public (the community as a whole), often in the form of a centralized government.The things needed to make goods or offer services—the raw materials, tools, factories, and labor—are known as the means of production. Under socialism, the means of production are owned collectively, rather than by private enterprises.The noun socialist refers to someone who supports socialism. It can also be used as an adjective to describe things involving socialism or that operate under socialism, such as countries or economies.Socialism is both a social and an economic theory, with many varying interpretations as to what it truly entails. In general, socialism values people working together to meet individuals’ needs. It’s based on the belief that everyone who helps create goods or services should have a share in them. To achieve that, socialism calls for the government to own the raw materials used to make goods, such as wood and metals, and everything you need to make things out of them, including machinery and factories. Some versions of the ideology are based on the belief that the government should also set all purchase prices and workers’ wages to ensure that everyone’s wealth stays equal. In this version of socialism, doctors, bakers, clerks, teachers, and accountants would all be paid the same.Many socialists think that essential services—such as healthcare, education, and even food—should be provided to the citizens by the government. The idea is that since community members worked together to produce those goods and services, everyone should have equal access to them.There are many common misconceptions related to socialism. One is that a nation cannot be both socialist and democratic at the same time, yet many socialists agree with the idea of democracy.Another common misconception is that there is no private property in a socialist society. But many people who consider themselves socialists are concerned only with property that has to do with production. In a society based on socialism, you could theoretically still have iPhones, jeans, and cars. The difference would be that the government would own everything required to make them. Abolishing private property is actually a part of communism, an ideology that is often confused with socialism. In Marxist theory, socialism is sometimes considered a middle stage in the transition from capitalism to communism.