Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

butskellism

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: butskel-lism
IPA

19

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A centrist economic policy obtaining in post-war Britain, upheld by both Conservative and Labour Chancellors.

British usage; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The next few weeks will show whether the Opposition will seize this chance of golden silence; or whether, in a Brown fury, it is going to throw the opportunity for constructive Butskellism away."
"And then there was a sort of sensation at the door and in came Margaret Thatcher. Rab’s shell crackled and contracted a little, as he tried to look flattered by the attention of his new leader: she whose whole purpose it was to cram Butskellism as harshly as possible into the WPB of history."
"Camerairism reflects a structural change more profound than Butskellism ever did."

Etymology

Blend of Butler + Gaitskell + -ism, after Rab Butler, the Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer 1951–55, and his Labour predecessor Hugh Gaitskell 1950–51.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: ism

Usage

British usage
Uncountable

Questions

What does butskellism mean?: A centrist economic policy obtaining in post-war Britain, upheld by both Conservative and Labour Chancellors.
Where does butskellism come from?: Blend of Butler + Gaitskell + -ism, after Rab Butler, the Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer 1951–55, and his Labour predecessor Hugh Gaitskell 1950–51.

How to pronounce butskellism

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