Dog Whistle (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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noun
  1. an ultrasonic whistle, audible to dogs and some other animals but out of the range easily perceptible to the human ear, used by handlers of working dogs and by dog trainers.
  2. a choice of words, coded communication, or other symbolic aspect of self-presentation that is superficially unobjectionable or neutral but conveys a secondary message aimed at those who affiliate with a controversial group or fringe ideology, usually signaling one’s own affinity for such beliefs: The candidate used “welfare reform” as a dog whistle appealing to racist voters.The logo on the t-shirt he chose to wear in his profile pic is a neo-Nazi dog whistle.
adjective
  1. relating to the targeting of potentially controversial messages to specific voters while avoiding offending those voters with whom the message will not be popular
verb
  1. to employ this kind of political strategy
Dog Whistle (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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