Sandinista

American  

[san-duh-nee-stuh, sahn-dee-nees-tah] / ˌsæn dəˈni stə, ˌsɑn diˈnis tɑ /

noun

plural

Sandinistas

1. a member of the Nicaraguan revolutionary movement that took control of Nicaragua in 1979.

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Sandinista British  

/ ˌsændɪˈniːstə /

noun

1. 1. one of a left-wing group of revolutionaries who overthrew President Somoza in 1979 and formed a socialist coalition government. The Sandinistas were opposed militarily by the US-backed Contras during the 1980s and were defeated in a general election in 1990

   2. ( as modifier )

      the Sandinista revolution

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Etymology

Origin of Sandinista

First recorded in 1925–30, in sense “supporter of Sandino”; from Latin American Spanish; see Sandino, -ist

Example Sentences

From documenting the lives of women performing striptease at rural American fairs to chronicling the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua, her work provides an intimate portrait of resilience and humanity.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2025

Over the past decade, the university has faced increasing scrutiny from Ortega’s party, the Sandinista National Liberation Front.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 25, 2023

Founded in 1960, UCA graduates include many from Nicaragua's political and business class, including Ortega who began law studies there in 1962 before leaving to join the Sandinista rebel movement.

From Reuters • Aug. 10, 2023

Hugo Torres, a former Sandinista guerrilla leader who once led a raid that helped free then rebel Ortega from prison in the 1970s but who later broke with Ortega, died while awaiting trial.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 21, 2023

The list of people affected included a well-known poet, Gioconda Belli; a high-profile journalist, Carlos Fernando Chamorro; a former Sandinista leader, Luis Carrión; and a prominent human rights activist, Vilma Núñez.

From New York Times • Feb. 17, 2023