socialist

American  

[soh-shuh-list] / ˈsoʊ ʃə lɪst /

noun

1. an advocate or supporter of socialism.

2. (initial capital letter) a member of the U.S. Socialist party.

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adjective

1. socialistic.

socialist British  

/ ˈsəʊʃəlɪst /

noun

1. a supporter or advocate of socialism or any party promoting socialism ( socialist party )

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adjective

1. of, characteristic of, implementing, or relating to socialism

2. (sometimes capital) of, characteristic of, or relating to socialists or a socialist party

Usage

What does socialist mean? A socialist is someone who practices or supports socialism, which is an ideology or system based on the collective, public ownership and control of the resources used to make and distribute goods or provide services. This involves ownership of such things not by private individuals but by the public (the community as a whole), often in the form of a centralized government. The things needed to make goods or offer services—the raw materials, tools, factories, and labor—are known as the means of production. Under socialism, the means of production are owned collectively, rather than by private enterprises. The word socialist can also be used as an adjective to describe things involving socialism or that operate under socialism, such as countries, economies, or programs. Socialism is both a social and an economic theory, with many varying interpretations as to what it truly entails. In general, socialism values people working together to meet individuals’ needs. It’s based on the belief that everyone who helps create goods or services should have a share in them. To achieve that, socialism calls for the government to own the raw materials used to make goods, such as wood and metals, and everything you need to make things out of them, including machinery and factories. Some versions of the ideology are based on the belief that the government should also set all purchase prices and workers’ wages to ensure that everyone’s wealth stays equal. In this version of socialism, doctors, bakers, clerks, teachers, and accountants would all be paid the same. Many socialists think that essential services—such as healthcare, education, and even food—should be provided to the citizens by the government. The idea is that since community members worked together to produce those goods and services, everyone should have equal access to them. There are many common misconceptions related to socialism. One is that a nation cannot be both socialist and democratic at the same time, yet many socialists agree with the idea of democracy. Another common misconception is that there is no private property in a socialist society. But many people who consider themselves socialists are concerned only with property that has to do with production. In a society based on socialism, you could theoretically still have iPhones, jeans, and cars. The difference would be that the government would own everything required to make them. Abolishing private property is actually a part of communism, an ideology that is often confused with socialism. In Marxist theory, socialism is sometimes considered a middle stage in the transition from capitalism to communism.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsocialist
  noun
• presocialist
  noun
• semisocialist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of socialist

First recorded in 1825–35; social + -ist

Explanation

A socialist is someone who supports a political or economic philosophy that says society as a whole, rather than private companies, should own or control various goods and services. The word socialist has become so politicized that it can be hard to define accurately. The original 19th century socialists were Marxists who believed that workers, and society, should have total control of the means of production. This economic philosophy (and the accompanying politics) is known as socialism. Today's socialists hold a wide variety of beliefs, from community ownership of land and businesses to government control of goods and services for the public good, funded through taxation.

Example Sentences

The socialist firebrand Tommy Sheridan was locked up in 2011 for telling lies in an earlier court case.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

“It was exciting to introduce our slate of candidates to a wider audience,” said Leslie Chang, co-chair of the socialist group’s Los Angeles chapter.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026

She has been disavowed by lawmakers across the Democratic spectrum, from Blue Dog centrist Rep. Josh Gottheimer to democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

From Slate • May 22, 2026

Mamdani, who calls himself a democratic socialist, went to JPMorgan Chase’s new headquarters at 270 Park Avenue for a noon meeting with the billionaire Dimon.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

In Berlin, he knew, an ambitious liberal democracy with socialist leanings was shedding the husk of its past and guiding the birth of a new republic in the thirties.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• left-winger
• leftist
• liberal
• progressive
• radical