grass roots

/ˌgræs ˌˈruts/

Definitions of grass roots

1. noun

   the common people at a local level (as distinguished from the centers of political activity)
   type of:

   common people, folk, folks

   people in general (often used in the plural)
2. noun

   the essential foundation or source
   “the problem was attacked at the grass roots”

   type of:

   foundation

   the basis on which something is grounded