noun

1. a member of a U.S. political party (Populist party or People's party, 1891-1904) advocating free coinage of gold and silver, public ownership of utilities, an income tax, and support of labor and agriculture
2. any person, esp. a politician or political leader, who claims to represent the interests, views, or tastes of the common people, particularly as distinct from those of the rich or powerful: often applied to someone with demagogic tendencies

Etymology: < L populus, people + -ist

adjective

1. of the Populist party
2. 1. of or characteristic of a populist
   2. of or for the common people