soviet

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

/ ˈsoʊ viˌɛt, -ɪt, ˌsoʊ viˈɛt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR soviet ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(in the Soviet Union).

(before the revolution) any governmental council.
(after the revolution) a local council, originally elected only by manual workers, with certain powers of local administration.
(after the revolution) a higher council elected by a local council, being part of a hierarchy of soviets culminating in the Supreme Soviet.

any similar council or assembly connected with a socialistic governmental system elsewhere.

(initial capital letter) Often Soviets. a governing official or person living in the Soviet Union: The Soviets have denied our charge.

adjective

of or relating to a soviet.

(initial capital letter) of the Soviet Union: a Soviet statesman.

Nearby words

sovereign, sovereigntist, sovereignty, sovereignty association, sovetsk, soviet, soviet bloc, soviet central asia, soviet of nationalities, soviet of the union, soviet russia

Origin of soviet

1915–20; < Russian sovét council, counsel, advice, Old Russian, OCS sŭvětŭ, equivalent to sŭ- together, with + větŭ counsel; calque of Greek symboúlion

Related forms

so·vi·et·dom

[soh-vee-et-duh m, -it-, soh-vee-et-] /ˈsoʊ viˌɛt dəm, -ɪt-, ˌsoʊ viˈɛt-/, nounan·ti-So·vi·et, noun, adjectivepro-So·vi·et, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for soviet

Unlike the Soviet Union at a certain period in history, the Russian economy does not hold a candle to that of the United States.
Oliver Stone’s Latest Dictator Suckup|James Kirchick|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Copies of the letter were sent to senior members of the church hierarchy and to the Soviet government.
Remembering the Russian Priest Who Fought the Orthodox Church|Cathy Young|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Miles of Soviet era housing projects sat along on the ocean.
Cuban Hip-Hop Was Born in Alamar|Daniel Levin|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not even after its parent company, the Soviet Union, took a dive in 1991.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro|Doug McIntyre|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Soviet forces had deftly enveloped the German 4th and 9th Armies, annihilating some 28 divisions.
Hitler’s Hail Mary|James A. Warren|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A similar crucial issue arose in the fall of 1961 on the question of relations with the Soviet Union.
Area Handbook for Albania|Eugene K. Keefe
The export to the Soviet bloc of many other items is subject to limitations as to quantities permitted to be shipped.
East-West Trade Trends|Harold E. Stassen
This agreement was secret, and revealed by the Soviet Government in 1918.
The Myth of a Guilty Nation|Albert Jay Nock
But, she told herself, for the glory of the Soviet peoples, the work must go on.
The Foreign Hand Tie|Gordon Randall Garrett
He had also said with resentment, a Soviet citizen could not own a rifle.
Warren Commission (2 of 26): Hearings Vol. II (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

British Dictionary definitions for soviet (1 of 2)

soviet

/ (ˈsəʊvɪət, ˈsɒv-) /

noun

(in the former Soviet Union) an elected government council at the local, regional, and national levels, which culminated in the Supreme Soviet

(in prerevolutionary Russia) a local revolutionary council

adjective

of or relating to a soviet

Word Origin for soviet

C20: from Russian sovyet council, from Old Russian sŭvĕtŭ

British Dictionary definitions for soviet (2 of 2)

Soviet

/ (ˈsəʊvɪət, ˈsɒv-) /

adjective

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

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