Menshevik
or men·she·vik
[ men-shuh-vik; Russian myin-shi-vyeek ]
/ ˈmɛn ʃə vɪk; Russian myɪn ʃɪˈvyik /
|
noun, plural Men·she·viks, Men·she·vik·i [men-shuh-vik-ee, -vee-kee; Russian myin-shi-vyi-kyee] /ˈmɛn ʃəˌvɪk i, -ˌvi ki; Russian myɪn ʃɪ vyɪˈkyi/.
a member of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers' Party in opposition to the Bolsheviks: advocated gradual development of full socialism through parliamentary government and cooperation with bourgeois parties; absorbed into the Communist party formed in 1918.
Origin of Menshevik
1905–10; < Russian menʾshevík, equivalent to ménʾsh(iĭ) lesser (comparative of málenʾkiĭ small; compare menʾshinstvó minority) + -evik, variant of -ovik noun suffix
Related forms
Men·she·vism [men-shuh-viz-uh m] /ˈmɛn ʃəˌvɪz əm/, nounMen·she·vist, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for menshevik
Are we depriving ourselves of Cadet and Menshevik criticisms of the corruption of the working class?
Dictatorship vs. Democracy|Leon TrotskyOne of the Menshevik orators attempted incidentally to represent me as a defender of militarism in general.
Dictatorship vs. Democracy|Leon Trotsky
British Dictionary definitions for menshevik
Menshevik
Menshevist
/ (ˈmɛnʃɪvɪk) /
noun
a member of the moderate wing of the Russian Social Democratic Party, advocating gradual reform to achieve socialismCompare Bolshevik
Derived Forms
Menshevism, nounWord Origin for Menshevik
C20: from Russian, literally: minority, from menshe less, from malo few
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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