A "man of the people". Sexist? No, because women have traditionally been too "other" to qualify as an Everyman in the eyes of the voting public. A populist is a political figure (or public figure) who appears to "have his ear to the ground" and his "head screwed on straight", as opposed to those "ivory tower elitists" (etc) who "rule" us. Usually uncategorizable, though we try to fit them into this or that box. Note that you needn't be sincere: Pat Buchanan is a pampered multi-millionaire.

Pop"u*list (?), n. [L. populus people + -ist.] (U. S. Politics)

A member of the People's Party. -- Pop`u*lis"tic (#), a.

 

© Webster 1913.

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