grass·roots
ˈgras-ˌrüts 
-ˌru̇ts
variants
or less commonly grassroot
ˈgras-ˌrüt
-ˌru̇t
1
: basic, fundamental
the grassroots factor in deciding to buy a house
2
: being, originating, or operating in or at the grass roots
a grassroots organization
grassroots political support
3
: not adapted from or added to an existing facility or operation : totally new
a grassroots refinery
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
1
: the very foundation or source
You must attack the problem at the grass roots.
2
: the basic level of society or of an organization especially as viewed in relation to higher or more centralized positions of power
was losing touch with the party's grass roots
Examples of grassroots in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 May 2024
In the 2000s, Gutierrez helped lead grassroots campaigns against the 2010 immigration enforcement law known as SB 1070 and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's immigration sweeps.
—Daniel Gonzalez, USA TODAY, 11 May 2024
In a statement, Common Defense, a grassroots veterans organization, called for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 10 May 2024
The round-the-world trip was the product of six years of planning, development and testing, supported by grassroots donations when Rutan and his co-pilot, Jeana Yeager, his girlfriend at the time, could not strike a deal for a corporate sponsorship.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
The grassroots opposition to dollar stores is just the latest bump in the road for these retailers.
—Carey L. Biron, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 May 2024
There are ongoing grassroots efforts in Vermont to increase voter participation among green-card holders, refugees and asylum-seekers.
—Mikaela Lefrak, NPR, 4 May 2024
Such grassroots economic movements have a tenuous record of success.
—Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 May 2024
Several legislators said the state bill’s fortunes were boosted by grassroots support, particularly from advocacy group Lahaina Strong, which rallied for months behind the legislation in the wake of the wildfires.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2024
More about Jack Healy Miriam Jordan reports from a grass roots perspective on immigrants and their impact on the demographics, society and economy of the United States.
—Miriam Jordan Rebecca Noble, New York Times, 10 Dec. 2023
Grass leaves grow much more slowly as the weather turns cool, but the grass roots and rhizomes continue to grow quickly.
—Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 22 Aug. 2023
Achieving chart success with savvy grass roots support was the ultimate repudiation of mainstream gatekeepers, Mr. MacDonald said.
—Marc Tracy, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2023
Another part of the growth plan is more grass roots, which Mehta said will take time.
—Schuyler Dixon, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2023
Sure, that’s part of it at its grass roots belch-iest.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2023
But now a grass roots team of staff at Arecibo, together with telescope users, have other ideas.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 25 May 2023
Those who attended on a cold and drizzly evening said Mr. DeSantis would pay a price with the party’s grass roots for challenging the former president.
—Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 6 May 2023
Adjective
Some content creators have publicly called on celebrities to support organizations like Operation Olive Branch, a grassroots effort to directly fundraise for Palestinian families.
—Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 May 2024
In the 2000s, Gutierrez helped lead grassroots campaigns against the 2010 immigration enforcement law known as SB 1070 and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's immigration sweeps.
—Daniel Gonzalez, USA TODAY, 11 May 2024
In a statement, Common Defense, a grassroots veterans organization, called for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 10 May 2024
The round-the-world trip was the product of six years of planning, development and testing, supported by grassroots donations when Rutan and his co-pilot, Jeana Yeager, his girlfriend at the time, could not strike a deal for a corporate sponsorship.
—Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
The grassroots opposition to dollar stores is just the latest bump in the road for these retailers.
—Carey L. Biron, The Christian Science Monitor, 2 May 2024
There are ongoing grassroots efforts in Vermont to increase voter participation among green-card holders, refugees and asylum-seekers.
—Mikaela Lefrak, NPR, 4 May 2024
Such grassroots economic movements have a tenuous record of success.
—Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 May 2024
Several legislators said the state bill’s fortunes were boosted by grassroots support, particularly from advocacy group Lahaina Strong, which rallied for months behind the legislation in the wake of the wildfires.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
Noun
Albin, originally from West Hartford, had the most grass roots beginnings in the business.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2024
More about Jack Healy Miriam Jordan reports from a grass roots perspective on immigrants and their impact on the demographics, society and economy of the United States.
—Miriam Jordan Rebecca Noble, New York Times, 10 Dec. 2023
Grass leaves grow much more slowly as the weather turns cool, but the grass roots and rhizomes continue to grow quickly.
—Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 22 Aug. 2023
Achieving chart success with savvy grass roots support was the ultimate repudiation of mainstream gatekeepers, Mr. MacDonald said.
—Marc Tracy, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2023
Another part of the growth plan is more grass roots, which Mehta said will take time.
—Schuyler Dixon, BostonGlobe.com, 20 July 2023
Sure, that’s part of it at its grass roots belch-iest.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2023
But now a grass roots team of staff at Arecibo, together with telescope users, have other ideas.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 25 May 2023
Those who attended on a cold and drizzly evening said Mr. DeSantis would pay a price with the party’s grass roots for challenging the former president.
—Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 6 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grassroots.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Grassroots.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grassroots. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
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