communist

[kom-yuh-nist] /ˈkɒm yə nɪst/
noun
1.
(initial capital letter) a member of the Communist Party or movement.
2.
an advocate of communism.
3.
a person who is regarded as supporting politically leftist or subversive causes.
4.
(usually initial capital letter) a Communard.
adjective
5.
(initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Communist Party or to Communism.
6.
pertaining to communists or communism.
Origin
1835-45; < French communiste. See common, -ist
Related forms
communistic, communistical, adjective
communistically, adverb
anticommunist, noun, adjective
anticommunistic, adjective
anticommunistical, adjective
anticommunistically, adverb
procommunist, adjective, noun
Can be confused
communist, fascist, Marxist, socialist.
Examples from the web for communists
  • They're not being communists, but they're not getting healthier.
  • They are the heirs to fascists, communists and other extremists, who failed.
  • Shortly afterward, the red star that the communists had placed on the spire of the building was removed.
  • McCarthy used a certain language to hunt communists.
  • Only in this city can you find a club where oil billionaires rub elbows with died-in-the-wool communists.
  • Diehard anti-communists distrusted him for having served the regime at all.
  • He could even become premier if, against his declared intentions, he forms a coalition with the ex-communists.
  • How much economic damage the communists really did is contested.
  • All the communists were portrayed as noble people and all the capitalists were portrayed as idiots.
  • The failure of the communists at the polls produced a political crisis.
British Dictionary definitions for communists

communist

/ˈkɒmjʊnɪst/
noun
1.
a supporter of any form of communism
2.
(often capital) a supporter of Communism or a Communist movement or state
3.
(often capital) a member of a Communist party
4.
(often capital) (US) any person holding left-wing views, esp when considered subversive
5.
a person who practises communal living; communalist
6.
another name for Communard
adjective
7.
of, characterized by, favouring, or relating to communism; communistic
Word Origin and History for communists

communist

1841, as both a noun and adjective, from French communiste (see communism). First attested in writing by John Goodwin Barmby (1820-1881), British Owenite and utopian socialist who founded the London Communist Propaganda Society in 1841. Main modern sense emerged after publication of Communist Manifesto ("Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei") in 1848. Shortened form Commie attested from 1940. Related: Communistic.

communists in Culture

communist definition


A supporter of communism.