revolutionist

American  

[rev-uh-loo-shuh-nist] / ˌrɛv əˈlu ʃə nɪst /

noun

1. a person who advocates or takes part in a revolution.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a revolution; revolutionary.

   revolutionist ideals.

revolutionist British  

/ ˌrɛvəˈluːʃənɪst /

noun

1. a less common word for a revolutionary

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adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to revolution or revolutionaries

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• semirevolutionist
  noun
• antirevolutionist
  noun
• prorevolutionist
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of revolutionist

First recorded in 1700–10; revolution + -ist

Explanation

Whether you’re overthrowing a government or protesting an unjust law, you could be called a revolutionist, someone who works for political or social change. A revolutionist is someone who wants to change the world — not just sitting around talking about it, but actually doing something to bring about change. Like its synonyms revolutionary and radical, a revolutionist is someone who questions authority, maybe by taking part in a demonstration to protest a government policy or by otherwise pointing out thing that he or she believes is wrong with society — then acting to try to fix it.

Example Sentences

"The role of the revolutionist is simple," Dominick writes.

From BBC • Nov. 2, 2019

Here, I’m out there being a revolutionist for everybody else.

From The Guardian • Jun. 23, 2019

I am not a revolutionist, but I do hold the deaths of every soldier as they fought for the freedoms in the constitution dear. globalgamble JJ_Bronco It sounds like you are doing the same thing.

From Time • Dec. 21, 2012

An obituary in The New York Times described her as “an incorrigible revolutionist to the end.”

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2012

Was she indeed a revolutionist from some strange country, summoned away, without a moment’s warning, by the inner council of her party?

From The Azure Rose A Novel by Kauffman, Reginald Wright