irredentist

American  

[ir-i-den-tist] / ˌɪr ɪˈdɛn tɪst /

noun

1. (usually initial capital letter) a member of an Italian association that became prominent in 1878, advocating the redemption, or the incorporation into Italy, of certain neighboring regions Italia irredenta having a primarily Italian population.

2. a member of a party in any country advocating the acquisition of some region included in another country by reason of cultural, historical, ethnic, racial, or other ties.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or supporting such a party or its doctrine.

irredentist ¹ British  

/ ˌɪrɪˈdɛntɪst /

noun

1. a person who favours the acquisition of territory that once was part of his country or is considered to have been

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or advocating this belief

Irredentist ² British  

/ ˌɪrɪˈdɛntɪst /

noun

1. (sometimes not capital) a member of an Italian association prominent in 1878 that sought to recover for Italy certain neighbouring regions ( Italia irredenta ) with a predominantly Italian population that were under foreign control

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Other Word Forms

• irredentism noun

Etymology

Origin of irredentist

First recorded in 1880–85; from Italian irredentista, equivalent to (Italia) irredent(a) “(Italy) unredeemed” (feminine of irredento, equivalent to ir- ir- ² + redento, from Latin redemptus; redemption ) + -ista -ist

Example Sentences

But if irredentist resentment lurked, alongside a Soviet spy’s suspicion of the U.S.,

From Seattle Times

I was first amused but then annoyed by a reader’s complaint that the words “irredentist” and “revanchist,” at the start of an article about Ukraine, were “so obtuse” that she had to look them up.

From Washington Post

For nations and international institutions trying to cope with irredentists, the ideology creates two special challenges.

From Washington Post

If the “Yes” vote wins, Macedonia will have to amend parts of its constitution to ensure it doesn’t contain anything that could be considered irredentist against Greece.

From Seattle Times

If “Yes” wins, Macedonia will have to amend parts of its constitution to ensure it doesn’t contain anything that could be considered irredentist against the Greeks.

From Washington Times