disunionist

[dis-yoon-yuh-nist]

noun

1. a person who advocates or causes disunion.

2. U.S. History.,  a secessionist during the period of the Civil War.

Other Word Forms

• disunionism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disunionist¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; disunion + -ist

Example Sentences

Calhoun always denied he was a disunionist and did not live long enough to witness the guns of South Carolina firing on United States forces in Charleston Harbor.

Read more on New York Times

It was only slowly and very deliberately that Washington identified himself with the disunionist cause.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

To the mind of the Loyalists, all this lynching proceeding were an irrefragible proof not only that the disunionist party were wicked, but that their idea of independence of a country free from British control and British law were silly delusions, dangerous to all good order and civilization.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

He was never a disunionist; but he insisted that "Unjust laws are not binding"; and he was supported by the mighty influence of Emerson.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

He was active in many ways as an abolitionist, but was not a disunionist.

Read more on Project Gutenberg