anarchist

American  

[an-er-kist] / ˈæn ər kɪst /

noun

1. a person who advocates or believes in anarchy or anarchism.

2. a person who seeks to overturn by violence all constituted forms and institutions of society and government, with no purpose of establishing any other system of order in the place of that destroyed.

3. a person who promotes disorder or excites revolt against any established rule, law, or custom.

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anarchist British  

/ ˈænəkɪst /

noun

1. a person who advocates the abolition of government and a social system based on voluntary cooperation

2. a person who causes disorder or upheaval

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Other Word Forms

• anarchistic adjective
• nonanarchistic adjective
• pseudoanarchistic adjective
• semianarchist noun
• semianarchistic adjective
• unanarchistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of anarchist

First recorded in 1670–80; anarch(y) + -ist

Example Sentences

A climax was reached in San Francisco in November 1917, at what was dubbed the “Hindu-German Conspiracy Trial,” in which Indian and German nationals were prosecuted for plotting and abetting anarchist violence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

However, in context, it is clear that Alter is criticizing a strain of anarchist activism in the United States.

From Salon • Sep. 23, 2025

“Unrest” is colder still, a documentary-style rewind to a watch factory in 1870s Switzerland whose anarchist employees agitated for a better future that we know isn’t going to happen.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2024

“I feel like if I raise those concerns, they want to put a tinfoil hat on me and they want to say I’m an anarchist or an insurrectionist,” Crye said.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 29, 2024

Dr. Talc saw again Mr. Reilly with his massive muffler and that awful girl anarchist with the valise who traveled around with Mr. Reilly and littered the campus with leaflets.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Related Words

• agitator
• anarch
• revolutionary