Definition of "populist"

populist

noun
plural populists
1. A person who advocates populism (a movement against ruling elites who are presumed not to act in the interests of the ordinary citizen).
  Quotations
  Critics suggest that Fernández, an unashamed populist and nationalist, is seeking to deflect attention from social disharmony at home.
  2013 January 3, Luke Harding, Uki Goni, The Guardian‎
2. A politician who advocates specific policies just because they are popular.
3. A person who advocates democratic principles.
adjective
comparative more populist, superlative most populist
1. Democratic.
2. (of a political policy) Put forward just because it would be popular.
3. Of or pertaining to populism.