Definitions for Socialismˈsoʊ ʃəˌlɪz əm

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

so•cial•ismˈsoʊ ʃəˌlɪz əm(n.)

a theory or system of social organization in which the means of production and distribution of goods are owned and controlled collectively or by the government.
Category: Government
(in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles.
Category: Government

Origin of socialism:

1830–40

Princeton's WordNet

socialism(noun)
a political theory advocating state ownership of industry
socialism, socialist economy(noun)
an economic system based on state ownership of capital

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

socialism(noun)ˈsoʊ ʃəˌlɪz əm
a political system based on the belief that all people should be treated equally
What is the difference between socialism and communism?

Wiktionary

socialism(Noun)
Any of various economic and political philosophies that support social equality, collective decision-making, distribution of income based on contribution and public ownership of productive capital and natural resources, as advocated by socialists.
socialism(Noun)
The socialist political philosophies as a group, including Marxism, libertarian socialism, democratic socialism, and social democracy.
socialism(Noun)
The intermediate phase of social development between capitalism and full communism. This is a strategy whereby the state has control of all key resource-producing industries and manages most aspects of the economy, in contrast to laissez faire capitalism.

Origin: Attested since 1832; either from socialisme or from

Webster Dictionary

Socialism(noun)
a theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor. In popular usage, the term is often employed to indicate any lawless, revolutionary social scheme. See Communism, Fourierism, Saint-Simonianism, forms of socialism

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

Socialism
a social system which, in opposition to the competitive system that prevails at present, seeks to reorganise society on the basis, in the main, of a certain secularism in religion, of community of interest, and co-operation in labour for the common good, agreeably to the democratic spirit of the time and the changes required by the rise of individualism and the decay of feudalism.

The Roycroft Dictionary

socialism
1. A sincere, sentimental, beneficent theory, which has but one objection, and that is, it will not work. 2. A plan by which the inefficient, irresponsible, ineffective, unemployable and unworthy will thrive without industry, persistence or economy. 3. An earnest effort to get Nature to change the rules for the benefit of those who are tired of the Game. 4. A social and economic scheme of government by which man shall loiter rather than labor. 5. A survival of the unfit. 6. A device for swimming without going near the _H_{2}O._. 7. Participation in profits without responsibility as to deficits. 8. An arrangement for destroying initiative, invention, creation and originality. 9. Resolutions passed by a committee as a substitute for work. 10. A sentiment which encouraged and evolved would lead to revolution, with dynamiting and destruction as a prominent and recognized part of its propaganda. 11. A system for turning water into wine, kerosene into oyster-soup, and boulders into bread, by passing resolutions.

U.S. National Library of Medicine

Socialism
A system of government in which means of production and distribution of goods are controlled by the state.

Translations for Socialism

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

socialism(noun)

the belief or theory that a country's wealth (its land, mines, industries, railways etc) should belong to the people as a whole, not to private owners.