revolutionary

[rev-uh-loo-shuh-ner-ee]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of a revolution, or a sudden, complete, or marked change.

   a revolutionary junta.

2. radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure, principles, etc..

   a revolutionary discovery.

   Synonyms: unorthodox, drastic, novel, unprecedented

3. (initial capital letter),  of or relating to the American Revolution or to the period contemporaneous with it in U.S. history.

   Revolutionary heroes; Revolutionary weapons.

4. revolving.

noun

plural

revolutionaries 

1. a revolutionist.

revolutionary

¹

/ ˌrɛvəˈluːʃənərɪ /

noun

1. a person who advocates or engages in revolution

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of a revolution

2. advocating or engaged in revolution

3. radically new or different

   a revolutionary method of making plastics

4. rotating or revolving

Revolutionary

²

/ ˌrɛvəˈluːʃənərɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to the conflict or period of the War of American Independence (1775–83)

2. of or relating to any of various other Revolutions, esp the Russian Revolution (1917) or the French Revolution (1789)

Other Word Forms

• revolutionarily adverb
• revolutionariness noun
• antirevolutionary noun
• nonrevolutionary adjective
• post-Revolutionary adjective
• prerevolutionary adjective
• prorevolutionary adjective
• semirevolutionary adjective
• ultrarevolutionary adjective
• unrevolutionary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of revolutionary¹

First recorded in 1765–75; revolution + -ary

Example Sentences

The sun is setting and the radical California revolutionary group the French 75 is raiding an immigration detention center along the southern border in Otay Mesa while Jonny Greenwood’s score is cranked to 11.

From Los Angeles Times

That vile legislation is, in many ways, the embodiment of the right’s revolutionary plan to remake nearly every part of American society in their own image.

From Salon

He says he was certain the men, who handed him the piece of paper, were anti-Gadaffi revolutionaries.

From BBC

I am in the camp that believes AI in many industries is more evolutionary than revolutionary.

From Los Angeles Times

So what Wyle does on “The Pitt” is almost revolutionary, fashioning a captivating character who makes you want to do better.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contemporary 
• innovative 
• modern 
• radical