refusenik

or re·fus·nik

[ri-fyooz-nik]

noun Informal.

a Soviet citizen, usually Jewish, who was denied permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union.

Origin of refusenik

1970–75; refuse¹ + -nik, perhaps translation of Russian otkáznik (unless the Russ word is itself a translation of refusenik)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for refusenik

Contemporary Examples of refusenik

You, dear reader and refusenik, will likely be called a cynic or a sad sack by friends.
The Refuseniks Hiding From ‘Happy New Year’
Lizzie Crocker
December 31, 2014
I envy my refusenik friends their steadfast commitments to stay in, and contentment in doing so.
The Refuseniks Hiding From ‘Happy New Year’
Lizzie Crocker
December 31, 2014
Sharansky, the famed Soviet refusenik, had left the Soviet Union for Israel in 1986.
Putting The Blame On "Palestine's Democratic Deficit"
James Zogby
February 19, 2013
And Netanyahu is the only one who will be able to confront these refusenik settlers.
Netanyahu is Our Man
Gershon Baskin
March 27, 2012

British Dictionary definitions for refusenik

refusenik

refusnik

noun

(formerly) a Jew in the Soviet Union who had been refused permission to emigrate

a person who refuses to cooperate with a system or comply with a law because of a moral conviction

Word Origin for refusenik

C20: from refuse 1 + -nik

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for refusenik

Refusenik

"Soviet Jew who has been refused permission to emigrate to Israel," 1975, a partial translation of Russian otkaznik, from otkazat "to refuse;" with English refuse (v.). Also cf. -nik.