revolutionist
Americannoun
adjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of revolutionist
First recorded in 1700–10; revolution + -ist
Explanation
Whether you’re overthrowing a government or protesting an unjust law, you could be called a revolutionist, someone who works for political or social change. A revolutionist is someone who wants to change the world — not just sitting around talking about it, but actually doing something to bring about change. Like its synonyms revolutionary and radical, a revolutionist is someone who questions authority, maybe by taking part in a demonstration to protest a government policy or by otherwise pointing out thing that he or she believes is wrong with society — then acting to try to fix it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Justifying the strategy to an Oregon newspaper, McAfee said in 2005, “I am a revolutionist in this, and I won’t overlook any loophole that will get the milk out there.”
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
During this time, Saklatvala, who was a college student, worked closely with Waldemar Haffkine, a Russian scientist who had to flee his country because of his revolutionist, anti-tsarist politics.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2024
He then established the Newark Community Union Project and, with Robert Machover, filmed “Troublemakers,” a documentary film about civic action in Newark that some critics described as revolutionist.
From New York Times ● Jan. 12, 2023
Here, I’m out there being a revolutionist for everybody else.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 23, 2019
The revolutionist frowned as he spoke, but this was clearly a disguise for his embarrassment.
From The White Terror and The Red A novel of revolutionary Russia by Cahan, Abraham
Soon after independence was won, the founding fathers began conspiring against their fellow revolutionists among the hoi polloi.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2020
Around and about Soho at the time could be found dissidents and revolutionists from half the countries of Europe — Louis Blanc, Karl Marx, Giuseppe Mazzini, Lajos Kossuth and Alexander Herzen.
From New York Times ● Mar. 30, 2018
Who ever heard of angry revolutionists swinging their bare feet together with their oppressor in lily-pad park pools, with gospels and guitars and ‘I Have A Dream’ speeches?
From Washington Post ● Jan. 14, 2018
The TNC refuses the allegations aiming to associate al-Qaeda with the revolutionists in #Libya.
From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2011
Who ever heard of angry revolutionists swinging their bare feet together with their oppressor in lily-pad park pools, with gospels and guitars and “I Have A Dream” speeches?
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
