separatist

American  

[sep-er-uh-tist, -uh-rey-] / ˈsɛp ər ə tɪst, -əˌreɪ- /

noun

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

2. an advocate of separation, especially ecclesiastical or political separation.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating separatism or separatists.

   separatist forces;

   separatist tendencies.

separatist ¹ British  

/ ˈsɛpərətɪst, ˈsɛprə- /

noun

1. 1. a person who advocates or practises secession from an organization or group

   2. ( as modifier )

      a separatist movement

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Separatist ² British  

/ ˈsɛprə-, ˈsɛpərətɪst /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• Separatism noun
• antiseparatist noun
• separatism noun
• separatistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of separatist

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

Example Sentences

More than a million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar also live in Bangladesh's border regions -- caught between the warring military and separatist groups.

From Barron's

The Saudi-led coalition launched repeated warnings and air strikes over the past week, including one on an alleged Emirati arms shipment to the separatists.

From Barron's

On Friday the separatists announced the start of a two-year transitional period towards declaring an independent state and said the process would include dialogue and a referendum on independence.

From Barron's

Experts say the separatists' successes have embarrassed Saudi Arabia, a regional heavyweight and the main backer of the internationally recognised Yemeni government.

From Barron's

The coalition had warned it would back Yemen's government in any military confrontation with separatist forces and has urged them to withdraw "peacefully" from recently-seized provinces.

From Barron's

Related Words

• dissident
• protester
• rebel