reactionary
[ ree-ak-shuh-ner-ee ]
/ riˈæk ʃəˌnɛr i /
adjective
of, pertaining to, marked by, or favoring reaction, especially extreme conservatism or rightism in politics; opposing political or social change.
noun, plural re·ac·tion·ar·ies.
a reactionary person.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
Sometimes re·ac·tion·ist [ree-ak-shuh-nist] /riˈæk ʃə nɪst/.
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for reactionist
British Dictionary definitions for reactionist
reactionary
reactionist
/ (rɪˈækʃənərɪ, -ʃənrɪ) /
adjective
of, relating to, or characterized by reaction, esp against radical political or social change
noun plural -aries or -ists
a person opposed to radical change
Derived Formsreactionism, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for reactionist
reactionary
1831, on model of French réactionnaire (19c.), from réaction (see reaction). In Marxist use, "tending toward reversing existing tendencies," opposed to revolutionary and used opprobriously in reference to opponents of communism, by 1858. As a noun, "person considered reactionary," especially in politics, one who seeks to check or undo political action, by 1855.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Culture definitions for reactionist
reactionary
An extremely conservative person or position that not only resists change but seeks to return to the “good old days” of an earlier social order.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.