soviet

[ soh-vee-et, -it, soh-vee-et ]

noun

1. (in the Soviet Union).
   1. (before the revolution) any governmental council.
   2. (after the revolution) a local council, originally elected only by manual workers, with certain powers of local administration.
   3. (after the revolution) a higher council elected by a local council, being part of a hierarchy of soviets culminating in the Supreme Soviet.
2. any similar council or assembly connected with a socialistic governmental system elsewhere.
3. (initial capital letter) Often Soviets. a governing official or person living in the Soviet Union:

   The Soviets have denied our charge.

adjective

1. of or relating to a soviet.
2. (initial capital letter) of the Soviet Union:

   a Soviet statesman.

Soviet

¹

/ ˈsəʊvɪət; ˈsɒv- /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to the former Soviet Union, its people, or its government

soviet

²

/ ˈsɒv-; ˈsəʊvɪət /

noun

1. (in the former Soviet Union) an elected government council at the local, regional, and national levels, which culminated in the Supreme Soviet
2. (in prerevolutionary Russia) a local revolutionary council

adjective

1. of or relating to a soviet

Other Words From

• so·vi·et·dom [soh, -vee-et-d, uh, m, -it-, soh-vee-, et, -], noun
• anti-Sovi·et noun adjective
• pro-Sovi·et adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of soviet¹

First recorded in 1915–20; from Russian sovét “council, counsel, advice,” Old Russian, Old Church Slavonic sŭvětŭ, equivalent to sŭ- “together, with” + větŭ “counsel”; loan translation of Greek symboúlion

Word History and Origins

Origin of soviet¹

C20: from Russian sovyet council, from Old Russian sŭvĕtŭ

Example Sentences

Unlike the Soviet Union at a certain period in history, the Russian economy does not hold a candle to that of the United States.

From The Daily Beast

Copies of the letter were sent to senior members of the church hierarchy and to the Soviet government.

From The Daily Beast

Miles of Soviet era housing projects sat along on the ocean.

From The Daily Beast

Not even after its parent company, the Soviet Union, took a dive in 1991.

From The Daily Beast

Soviet forces had deftly enveloped the German 4th and 9th Armies, annihilating some 28 divisions.

From The Daily Beast

But during the second year Soviet parachutists began to drop, a few at first, then more and more.

From Project Gutenberg

Factories a long way under ground, behind the Soviet lines, factories that had once made atomic projectiles, now almost forgotten.

From Project Gutenberg

The Soviet Union had gained great initial success, usual with the side that got the war going.

From Project Gutenberg

You might have started for the Soviet lines without knowing anything about the work of the other varieties.

From Project Gutenberg

The people, their costumes—definitely not Pan-Soviet uniforms—and the room and its machines, told him nothing.

From Project Gutenberg