activist

American  

[ak-tuh-vist] / ˈæk tə vɪst /

noun

• activists
  plural

1. an especially active, vigorous advocate of a cause, especially a political cause.

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adjective

1. of or relating to activism or activists.

   an activist organization for environmental concern.

2. advocating or opposing a cause or issue vigorously, especially a political cause.

   Activist opponents of the president picketed the White House.

Usage

What does activist mean? An activist is a person who engages in activism—the practice of taking direct action to achieve political or social goals. An activist may support a particular cause (or range of causes) or oppose it. In any case, an activist tries to achieve such goals through direct (and continued) actions, such as protests, lawsuits, lobbying, petitions, and strikes. The word activist implies that the person takes such actions consistently—that they are consistently active in these pursuits. For example, protesting is a form of activism, but someone who attends one protest probably wouldn’t be called an activist (unless they continue to take such actions). The word activist is often preceded by a word referring to the kind of cause the activist is involved in, as in political activist or animal rights activist. It can also be used as an adjective to describe such people or their activities, as in activist lawyer or activist organization. Example: The prominent activist is known for organizing this summer’s mass protests.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonactivist
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• activists
  plural

Etymology

Origin of activist

First recorded in 1905–10; active + -ist

Explanation

An activist is a person who campaigns for some kind of social change. When you participate in a march protesting the closing of a neighborhood library, you're an activist. Someone who's actively involved in a protest or a political or social cause can be called an activist. Demonstrations, strikes, and sit-ins are all ways that an activist might work toward the change she believes in. The root word of activist is the Latin actus, "a doing, a driving force, or an impulse." Someone who acts on what she believes is an activist.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

activist activists

In the words of South African freedom activist Steve Biko, “If you want to say something radical, you should dress conservatively.”

From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026

Zirin’s lively biography of this activist should remind everyone that history isn’t just about facts and figures but also context and compassion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

Integer has faced activist pressure from one of its largest shareholders.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Nigerian activist, opposition politician and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore said on X that anger over anti-migrant attacks should be directed at political leaders in Nigeria and South Africa, rather than artists.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

One day I interviewed a community activist who described a particular job program as a throwback to the Progressive Era.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

South Korean police raided the Starbucks national headquarters Wednesday, the chain's local operator told AFP, following allegations an advertising campaign defamed activists slain in 1980 pro-democracy protests.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

The Mahajan family has joined with animal-rights activists advocating the ban and on July 27 announced plans to sue the city.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

My research on how these movements evolve online and intersect with political activists and extremist networks was directly relevant to tracing how COVID-origin claims moved from fringe communities into mainstream political discourse.

From Salon ● Aug. 2, 2026

Who are the activists jailed in Hong Kong's largest national security trial?

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

And claiming that it is will, in its ignorance, worsen the ecological ailments that activists would like to cure.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• combatant
• demonstrator
• fighter
• protester
• rioter