noun
- people who believe in or practice paternalism; those who act in a way that limits a person’s liberty or rights for what they believe is that person’s own good
Usage: plural form
Examples
- The paternalists in government argued that the new safety regulations were necessary to protect citizens.
- Critics accused the school administrators of being paternalists who restricted student freedoms unnecessarily.
- Some paternalists believe that certain choices should be made for people rather than by them.
- The debate pitted paternalists against those who favored personal responsibility.
- Many paternalists genuinely believe their interventions help society.
- The paternalists implemented policies they thought would improve public health.