irredentist

[ir-i-den-tist]

noun

(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.
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.

adjective

pertaining to or supporting such a party or its doctrine.

Origin of irredentist

1880–85; < Italian irredentista, equivalent to (Italia) irredent(a) (Italy) unredeemed (feminine of irredento, equivalent to ir- ir-² + redento < Latin redemptus; see redemption) + -ista -ist

Related formsir·re·den·tism, noun

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British Dictionary definitions for irredentist

irredentist

noun

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

adjective

of, relating to, or advocating this belief

Derived Formsirredentism, noun

Word Origin for irredentist

C19: from Italian irredentista, from the phrase Italia irredenta, literally: Italy unredeemed, from ir- in- 1 + redento redeemed, from Latin redemptus bought back; see redeem

Irredentist

noun

(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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for irredentist

1882, member of Italian political party which (after 1878) demanded the annexation of neighboring Italian-speaking regions (Trieste, S. Tyrol, Nice, Corsica, etc.), from Italian Irredentista, from (Italia) irredenta "unredeemed (Italy)." Related: Irredentism.