revisionism

American  

[ri-vizh-uh-niz-uhm] / rɪˈvɪʒ əˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. advocacy or approval of revision.

2. any departure from Marxist doctrine, theory, or practice, especially the tendency to favor reform above revolutionary change.

3. a departure from any authoritative or generally accepted doctrine, theory, practice, etc.

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revisionism British  

/ rɪˈvɪʒəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. (sometimes capital)

   1. a moderate, nonrevolutionary version of Marxism developed in Germany around 1900

   2. (in Marxist-Leninist ideology) any dangerous departure from the true interpretation of Marx's teachings

2. the advocacy of revision of some political theory, religious doctrine, historical or critical interpretation, etc

3. (usually capital) an ultra-nationalist form of Zionism that arose in Palestine in the 1940s

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Other Word Forms

• revisionist noun

Etymology

Origin of revisionism

First recorded in 1900–05; revision + -ism

Example Sentences

In a statement, organisers of the rallies decried the "violence, historical revisionism, and intimidation" of the past months, as the crowds marched with banners and signs.

From Barron's

One of the earlier efforts that established the template for World War II revisionism is "Back Door to War," by Charles Tansill, published in 1952.

From Salon

“The honor and integrity of our offices should never be compromised by the shadow of hate or revisionism,” the caucus letter said.

From Salon

“We adamantly reject any attempt to diminish, misrepresent, or justify antisemitism, Nazi crimes against humanity or historical revisionism vis-à-vis the Holocaust,” the letter added.

From Seattle Times

Like the origins of the Cold War, the legacy of the Versailles Treaty has been subject to so much revisionism, tendentious pleading and misinformation that closer examination is warranted.

From Salon

Related Words

• blasphemy
• fallacy