separatist

[sep-er-uh-tist, -uh-rey-]

noun

1. a person who separates, withdraws, or secedes, as from an established church.

2. an advocate of separation, especially ecclesiastical or political separation.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating separatism or separatists.

   separatist forces;

   separatist tendencies.

separatist

¹

/ ˈsɛpərətɪst, ˈsɛprə- /

noun

1. 1. a person who advocates or practises secession from an organization or group

   2. ( as modifier )

      a separatist movement

Separatist

²

/ ˈsɛprə-, ˈsɛpərətɪst /

noun

1. (sometimes not capital) a person who advocates the secession of a province, esp Quebec, from Canada

Other Word Forms

• separatism noun
• separatistic adjective
• Separatism noun
• antiseparatist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of separatist¹

First recorded in 1600–10; separate (adjective) + -ist

Example Sentences

Ms Juc's social media profile says she is from Transnistria, a separatist region of eastern Moldova loyal to Moscow, and her Instagram shows she has made multiple trips to Russia over the past few years.

From BBC

He later became secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, during a period when pro-Russian separatists began fighting in eastern Ukraine - and when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the annexation of the Crimea peninsula.

From BBC

India and Canada have appointed new high commissioners to each other's countries, in the latest step to restore ties strained by the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in a Vancouver suburb in 2023.

From BBC

The 90-year-old has always advocated a "middle way" to resolve the status of Tibet - genuine self-rule within China - but Beijing regards him as a separatist.

From BBC

His political opponents however say he is antagonising Beijing which reviles Lai as a "separatist", and that he is leading Taiwan towards greater conflict with China.

From BBC

Related Words

• dissident 
• protester www.thesaurus.com
• rebel