whiggery

whiggery

A politician advocates for whiggery in a public speech.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • Political principles of the Whig Party: "Whiggery" refers to the political doctrines and practices associated with the Whig party, historically in Britain and later in the United States. It emphasizes constitutional monarchy, parliamentary supremacy, civil liberties, and opposition to absolute monarchy.
    • Support for liberal reform: More broadly, "whiggery" denotes a commitment to progressive, reformist, and anti-authoritarian political ideas, often favoring gradual change over revolution.
Usage Examples
  • (The political principles of the Whig party influenced democratic institutions.)
  • (He promoted liberal reforms consistent with Whig ideology.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Whiggery as a historiographical bias": In historical writing, "whiggery" can refer to a tendency to interpret history as a linear progression toward greater liberty and enlightenment.
    • Critics accuse the textbook of whiggery, presenting history as an inevitable march toward freedom. (The book is biased toward a Whig interpretation of history.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Whiggism (n): a synonym for "whiggery", referring to the same set of political principles.

    • Whiggism declined after the rise of the Labour Party in Britain. (The influence of Whig ideas waned.)

  • Whig (n): a member or supporter of the Whig Party.

    • He was a prominent Whig in the House of Commons. (He belonged to the Whig political party.)

  • Whiggish (adj): characteristic of or relating to whiggery.

    • The newspaper's editorial had a whiggish tone, praising gradual reform. (It reflected Whig political attitudes.)
Synonyms
  • Liberalism: a political philosophy favoring individual rights, democracy, and free markets.
  • Reformism: a belief in gradual, non-revolutionary change to improve society.
  • Constitutionalism: adherence to a system of government based on a constitution and rule of law.
Related Idioms
  • "The spirit of whiggery": a phrase used to describe the underlying ideology of the Whig party.
    • The spirit of whiggery lived on in the early liberal movements of the 19th century. (Whig ideals persisted in later reform efforts.)
Phrasal Verbs
  • None directly associated: "Whiggery" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.
Related Idioms
  • "Whig interpretation of history": a phrase coined by historian Herbert Butterfield, referring to the tendency to write history as a story of progress toward liberty.
    • Many textbooks fall into the trap of the Whig interpretation of history. (They present history as a linear advance toward freedom.)