alt-right

noun

ˈȯlt-ˈrīt 

variants or less commonly alt right

: a right-wing, primarily online political movement or grouping based in the U.S. whose members reject mainstream conservative politics and espouse extremist beliefs and policies typically centered on ideas of white nationalism

Welcome to the alt-right. The label blends together straight-up white supremacists, nationalists who think conservatives have sold out to globalization, and nativists who fear immigration will spur civil disarray.

—Dylan Matthews

Rather than concede the moral high ground to the left, the alt right turns the left's moralism on its head and makes it a badge of honor to be called "racist," "homophobic," and "sexist."

—Benjamin Welton

Regardless of who triumphs at the ballot box, the biggest winner of this presidential election may be the alt-right: a sprawling coalition of reactionary conservatives who have lobbied to make the United States more "traditional," more "populist" and more white.

—Jonathon Morgan

—often used before another noun

an alt-right manifesto

Secularism is indeed correlated with greater tolerance of gay marriage and pot legalization. But it's also making America's partisan clashes more brutal. And it has contributed to the rise of … the so-called alt-right movement, whose members see themselves as proponents of white nationalism.

—Peter Beinart

Examples of alt-right in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Why? Around the time of Charlottesville, there were a lot of articles interviewing people on what was then called the alt-right. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 18 June 2024

After Donald Trump’s election and the corresponding surge of the alt-right, anonymous figures largely had one perspective on anonymity: Preserve it at all costs. —Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 10 June 2024

Any discussion of the intellectual elements of the alt-right should clarify one point. —George Hawley, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2017

The Boys season 4 introduces world's smartest supe and alt-right Firecracker to the Seven Details on how DeWitt's role plays into the season are still under wraps for now, including what Hughie's mom's name is exactly. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 20 May 2024

Already, jurors have heard about the Trump 2016 campaign’s dealings with tabloid publishers, excitable lawyers, and alt-right crusaders. —Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 3 May 2024

The Washington Post reported last week that Musk had met with Trump last summer to discuss a purchase of Truth Social, the alt-right social media platform Trump owns and exclusively posts on. —William Gavin, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024

What is clear is that from at least 2017 to 2019, Blevins was an active leader in Identity Evropa, one of the largest among the white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups that collectively made up the alt-right. —Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2024

Related Articles Donald Trump and the alt-right threaten generations of proud American global leadership. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

short for alternative right

First Known Use

2009, in the meaning defined above