demagogue
Pronunciation: /ˈdɛməgɒg/
noun
- a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument: the Senator was a gifted demagogue, with particular skill in manipulating the press
- (in ancient Greece and Rome) a leader or orator who espoused the cause of the common people: the Athenian demagogues had definite and valuable functions within the state
Origin:
mid 17th century: from Greek dēmagōgos, from dēmos 'the people' + agōgos 'leading' (from agein 'to lead')