SILENT MAJORITY Meaning and
Definition
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The term "silent majority" refers to a group of people who share a common viewpoint or opinion but choose not to vocalize it publicly. This phrase gained popularity during the late 1960s and early 1970s when it was used in political discourse to describe a hypothetical group of individuals who were seen as traditional, conservative, and supportive of the existing social order.
The "silent majority" concept assumes that there is a significant number of people who do not engage in public discourse, protests, or public demonstrations, but hold views that differ from those who are more vocal. These individuals often do not actively participate in political discussions, preferring instead to remain silent or keep their opinions private.
The term's origin can be traced back to President Richard Nixon's attempt to appeal to these less visible supporters during the Vietnam War. By invoking the silent majority, Nixon aimed to emphasize that the majority of Americans were not actively protesting against the war but were quietly supporting his policies.
In contemporary usage, the silent majority can refer to any such group that may be understated or not fully represented in the public sphere. It implies that there are individuals who hold similar beliefs but do not express them openly due to various reasons such as social pressure, fear of backlash, or personal preference to avoid controversy. While the silent majority may remain silent in public, their existence and influence can still be felt in broader social or political contexts.
Common Misspellings for SILENT MAJORITY
- ailent majority
- zilent majority
- xilent majority
- dilent majority
- eilent majority
- wilent majority
- sulent majority
- sjlent majority
- sklent majority
- solent majority
- s9lent majority
- s8lent majority
- sikent majority
- sipent majority
- sioent majority
- silwnt majority
- silsnt majority
- sildnt majority
- silrnt majority
- sil4nt majority
Etymology of SILENT MAJORITY
The term "silent majority" was popularized in the late 1960s during the presidency of Richard Nixon, but its origins can be traced back to earlier usage. The phrase was coined by President Nixon's speechwriter, William Safire, during Nixon's 1969 address on the Vietnam War.
Safire's intention behind using the phrase was to describe the large group of people who were supportive of Nixon's policies but were not actively vocal about it or joining in protests. The term indicated a silent consensus or majority that disagreed with the more visible, vocal minority. It was often used to describe those who did not participate in the counterculture or anti-war movements of the time.
While the exact etymology is attributed to Safire and Nixon's administration, the concept of a "silent majority" predates this usage.
Idioms with the word SILENT MAJORITY
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the silent majority
The idiom "the silent majority" refers to a large group of people in a society who hold a particular opinion, belief, or view, but do not express it openly or vocally. These individuals may choose to remain silent due to various reasons such as fear of backlash, social pressure, or lack of interest in engaging in public debate. The term generally implies that the majority opinion on a particular issue may not be accurately reflected by the vocal or visible minority.
