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

But after months of speculation, the party now has a name and a constitution that will see it led by a "revolutionary" new system - controlled by ordinary members rather than a single leader.

Read more on BBC

A father reconnects with his former group of revolutionaries following the kidnap of his daughter.

Read more on BBC

It was also always true that she had nothing to do with causing The Beatles to break up and that she was, and remains, a visionary, a revolutionary, and a highly accomplished and influential artist.

Read more on Salon

Though the therapy has been revolutionary for other types of leukaemia, it is less so for acute myeloid leukaemia, Dr Sankaran said.

Read more on BBC

Significant figures in the social and political circles that shaped revolutionary America, the Schuyler sisters found ways to influence the direction of a young country.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• contemporary 
• innovative 
• modern 
• radical