separatist

[ sep-er-uh-tist, -uh-rey- ]

/ ˈsɛp ər ə tɪst, -əˌreɪ- /

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See synonyms for: separatist / separatism on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who separates, withdraws, or secedes, as from an established church.

an advocate of separation, especially ecclesiastical or political separation.

adjective

of, relating to, or designating separatism or separatists: separatist forces;separatist tendencies.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of separatist

First recorded in 1600–10; separate (adjective) + -ist

OTHER WORDS FROM separatist

sep·a·ra·tism, nounan·ti·sep·a·ra·tist, noun

Words nearby separatist

separation negative, separation of church and state, separation of powers, separation of variables, separatism, separatist, separative, separator, separatory, separatrix, Seph.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use separatist in a sentence

Matrix is a rich, beautifully written novel about ambition and desire, and also witchy separatist medieval nuns.
The Vox Book Club is spending October reading and talking to Lauren Groff|Constance Grady|September 30, 2021|Vox
By terrorists, China principally means the Islamic State group, which has a worrying presence in Afghanistan, and Uyghur separatists.
Butterfly Effect: Is China Ready to Step Up in Afghanistan?|Charu Kasturi|April 23, 2021|Ozy
At the 1993 awards, the first time they were broadcast live in China, actor Richard Gere expressed support for the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader China considers a separatist.
China’s Oscars boycott mixes politics with push to curb Hollywood dominance|Lyric Li, Steven Zeitchik|April 22, 2021|Washington Post
While county leaders where the city would be are pushing back against this kind of “separatist government control,” they remain interested in the possibilities the futuristic city represents.
Inside the Newest Crypto Craze: The NFT|Joshua Eferighe|March 4, 2021|Ozy

Next came news that Erdogan’s government had arrested more than 700 people, including members of a pro-Kurdish political party on suspicion of ties to separatists.
How Erdogan's Increasingly Erratic Rule in Turkey Presents a Risk to the World|Ian Bremmer|March 4, 2021|Time
We have Matthew Rhys from The Americans as a Welsh separatist.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Kurnosova does not welcome such separatist movements in Russia.
Russians Plot Exiled Government in Kiev|Anna Nemtsova|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A ceasefire was in effect, but the Ukrainian army was still fighting with pro-Russian separatist forces in the east.
Ukraine’s Home Front Grows War Weary|Anna Nemtsova|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In this capacity, Spitz provided information on the German Red Cross and the Bavarian Separatist Movement in southern Germany.
On the Trail of Nazi Counterfeiters|Dr. Kevin C. Ruffner|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
More importantly, he has frustrated other separatists and those who would foment separatist movements, like China and Russia.
Scotland Says Resounding ‘No’ to Independence|Nico Hines|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The separatist theories of the Homeric poems are not more secure than the Solar Myth, "like a wave shall they pass and be passed."
Homer and His Age|Andrew Lang
Tone then was not merely a Republican and a Separatist but a Democrat prepared for a democratic and revolutionary policy.
The Evolution of Sinn Fein|Robert Mitchell Henry
My legs developed separatist tendencies, and started on independent orbits.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 102, June 11, 1892|Various
Robinson was the pastor of the Separatist congregation at Leyden.
A Source Book in American History to 1787|Various
Separatist tendencies were stronger than those of coalescence.
The Colonization of North America|Herbert Eugene Bolton

British Dictionary definitions for separatist (1 of 2)

separatist

separationist

/ (ˈsɛpərətɪst, ˈsɛprə-) /

noun

a person who advocates or practises secession from an organization or group
(as modifier)a separatist movement

Derived forms of separatist

separatism, nounseparatistic, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for separatist (2 of 2)

Separatist

/ (ˈsɛpərətɪst, ˈsɛprə-) /

noun

(sometimes not capital) a person who advocates the secession of a province, esp Quebec, from Canada

Derived forms of Separatist

Separatism, noun

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

separatist

Origin of separatist

OTHER WORDS FROM separatist

Words nearby separatist

Words related to separatist

How to use separatist in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for separatist (1 of 2)

separationist

Derived forms of separatist

British Dictionary definitions for separatist (2 of 2)

Derived forms of Separatist