grass-roots
UK[ˈɡrɑːsˌruːts]US[ˈɡræsˌruːts]
adj
Relating to or involving the ordinary people in a society or organization, especially in politics.
n
The most basic level of an activity or organization.
Morpheme Breakdown
grass
root
s
grass
common plant
root
foundational part
s
plural suffix
Etymology
The term "grass-roots" is a distinctly American English compound, first recorded in the early 20th century. It originated in the mining industry, where it literally referred to the soil just beneath the surface layer of grass, containing minerals. This literal sense of the "most basic layer" was then figuratively extended to political and social contexts. The logic of the metaphor is clear: just as grass and its roots form the fundamental, widespread base of the landscape, the "grass-roots" level of a movement or society consists of the fundamental, widespread base of ordinary people, as opposed to the leadership or elite. The hyphenated spelling solidifies its status as a fixed compound adjective and noun.
Analysis
Structure: grass (common plant) + root (foundational part) + s (plural suffix)
grass: From Old English 'græs', meaning herb, plant, pasture. In this compound, it signifies the common, basic level.
root: From Old English 'rōt', from Old Norse, meaning the underground part of a plant. In this compound, it signifies the foundational or source level.
s: A common English plural suffix.
Examples
The campaign relied on strong grass-roots support and local volunteers.
We need to understand the grass-roots concerns of the community.
The movement started at the grass-roots and eventually influenced national policy.