communist

American  

[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.

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adjective

1. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the Communist Party or to Communism.

2. pertaining to communists or communism.

communist British  

/ 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) any person holding left-wing views, esp when considered subversive

5. a person who practises communal living; communalist

6. another name for Communard

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adjective

1. of, characterized by, favouring, or relating to communism; communistic

communist Cultural  

1. A supporter of communism.

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Other Word Forms

• anticommunist noun
• anticommunistic adjective
• anticommunistical adjective
• anticommunistically adverb
• communistic adjective
• communistical adjective
• communistically adverb
• procommunist adjective

Etymology

Origin of communist

From the French word communiste, dating back to 1835–45. See common, -ist

Example Sentences

Your humble correspondent cannot claim to be a communist sympathizer, but shouldn’t we all spare a thought for anyone who has to sit through endless hours of Marxist speeches without so much as a cocktail?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

But many experts caution that predictions of communist rule ending have proved illusory.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

The US and Cuba have had strained relations since communist leader Fidel Castro overthrew a US-backed government in 1959.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

It was in this city along Poland's Baltic coast where the union leader twisted the arm of the communist authorities.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

At eight years old, Timmy had distributed illegal communist leaflets in tsarist Russia; as a teen, he survived being executed by firing squad by playing dead on the ground for two days.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau