demagogue
English
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demagogue
- /ˈdɛməɡɑɡ/ US
- /ˈdɛməɡɔɡ/ US
- /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/ UK
Where it comes from
From Middle French démagogue, from Ancient Greek δημαγωγός (dēmagōgós, “popular leader, mob leader”), from δῆμος (dêmos, “people”) + ἀγωγός (agōgós, “guide”). By surface analysis, dem- + -agogue.
noun demagogues · demagog
- A political orator or leader, especially in a democratic system, who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument. 1938, O'Neill, translating The Knights by Aristophanes, 424 BC, lines 191-193, A demagogue must be neither an educated nor an honest man; he has to be an ignoramus and a rogue.
- A leader of the people.
verb demagogues · demagoguing · demagogued · demagog
- To speak or act in the manner of a demagogue; to speak about (an issue) in the manner of a demagogue. c. 1938, Maury Maverick, The New York Times, quoted in 1970, Richard B. Henderson, Maury Maverick: A Political Biography, page 183, I never demagogued on our serious questions and stood for civil liberties.
Translations
Every language
noun (pejorative) a political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational
| Español | demagogo |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 선동 정치가 seondong jeongchiga, 군중 지도자 gunjung jidoja |
| 日本語 | 扇動 sendō |
| 中文 | 煽動者 /煽动者 shāndòngzhě |
| Português | demagogo |
| Français | démagogue |
| Deutsch | Demagoge, Demagogin |
| Italiano | demagogo |
| Ελληνικά | δημαγωγός dimagogós |
| Română | demagog, demagogă |
| Русский | демаго́г demagóg |
| Tiếng Việt | nịnh dân, người mị dân |
| العربية | زَعِيم الدهماء, دَهْمَاوِيّ dahmāwiyy |
noun (historical) a leader of the people
| Français | démagogue |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Führer |
| Italiano | duce |
| Ελληνικά | δημαγωγός dimagogós |
| Русский | вождь voždʹ |
verb speak or act in the manner of a demagogue
| Ελληνικά | δημαγωγώ dimagogó |
|---|
Talk about this word "demagogue." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/demagogue. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. demagogue. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/demagogue "demagogue." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/demagogue.Cite this
@misc{demagogue_2026,
title = {demagogue},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/demagogue},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
