protectionist

noun

pro·​tec·​tion·​ist prə-ˈtek-sh(ə-)nist How to pronounce protectionist (audio)
: an advocate of government economic protection for domestic producers through restrictions on foreign competitors
protectionism noun
protectionist adjective

Examples of protectionist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That would be a historic high and surpass those seen under President McKinley in the 1890s, when U.S. trade policies were far more protectionist, and during the 1930s under the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, according to Capital Economics. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2025 To lay the groundwork for recovery, the new leadership must adopt the Syrian pound as the unified national currency, reversing counterproductive protectionist policies on trade and dismantling exchange-rate supports for inefficient domestic production. Karam Shaar, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2024 Many economists feared that such protectionist trade policy could make production of goods more expensive and raise consumer prices, just as the world recovers from pandemic-era inflation spikes. — CNBC’s Megan Cassella contributed reporting. Yun Li, CNBC, 20 Jan. 2025 Climax became the first ever vegan cheesemaker to win a prestigious Good Food award—though dairy complaints caused the prize to be rescinded at the last minute, with shades of the protectionist, legal skulduggery faced by non-dairy milk products. Andrew Rosenblum, Popular Science, 26 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for protectionist 

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of protectionist was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near protectionist

Cite this Entry

“Protectionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protectionist. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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