reactionary
Americanadjective
noun
plural
reactionariesadjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- antireactionary noun
- half-reactionary adjective
- nonreactionary adjective
- reactionarism noun
- reactionaryism noun
- reactionism noun
- semireactionary adjective
- unreactionary adjective
Etymology
Origin of reactionary
Explanation
A reactionary is someone who opposes reform or change, especially in the realm of politics. A reactionary is someone reacting (in horror) to what others consider to be progress. No one describes themselves as reactionary — you will hear it more often as a condemnation, as in "I cannot support the reactionary policy of mandatory military service for 18-year-olds."
Vocabulary lists containing reactionary
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Liberty, Equality, Vocabulary: The French Revolution
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Quiz yourself on these words spoken by the man at the center of the "Laurel" / "Yanny" craze!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“I believe the case was a reactionary case that was overcharged,” said attorney Adam Koppekin, who represents an officer whose case was dismissed.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
Acting on emotions creates what analysts call a “behavior gap,” which is the difference between strong returns and poor returns that tend to be associated with reactionary decision-making.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
"The Grammys are more reactionary than anything else," said Kehrer.
From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026
The democratic London dandy’s Parisian cousin was a reactionary.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026
For that is what animals are, conservative, one might even say reactionary.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
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.
