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perestroika

American  
[per-uh-stroi-kuh, pyi-ryi-stroi-kuh] / ˌpɛr əˈstrɔɪ kə, pyɪ ryɪˈstrɔɪ kə /

noun

  1. Russian. the program of economic and political reform in the Soviet Union initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986.


perestroika British  
/ ˌpɛrəˈstrɔɪkə /

noun

  1. the policy of reconstructing the economy, etc, of the former Soviet Union under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachov

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of perestroika

From the Russian word perestróĭka literally, rebuilding, reorganization

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was the era of glasnost and perestroika.

From Los Angeles Times

His restructuring and openness — perestroika and glasnost — of the late 1980s led to the dismantling of the Soviet Union and, peacefully and fleetingly, brought a divided Europe together in liberty.

From New York Times

And after perestroika everything changed: Girls became dolls.”

From New York Times

As Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev began the fateful era of “perestroika,” or restructuring, in the late 1980s, Mr. Strougal followed suit with efforts to lessen state controls on the Czechoslovak economy.

From Washington Post

But, as the post-Stalin “thaw” and Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika demonstrate, Russians can act collectively and autonomously when repression is reduced and the threat of immediate arrest recedes.

From Los Angeles Times