soviet

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

/ ˈsoʊ viˌɛt, -ɪt, ˌsoʊ viˈɛt /

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See 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.

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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 soviet

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

OTHER WORDS FROM soviet

so·vi·et·dom

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

Words nearby soviet

sovereign, sovereigntist, sovereignty, sovereignty association, Sovetsk, soviet, Soviet Bloc, Soviet Central Asia, Sovietism, Sovietize, Sovietologist

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

How to use soviet in a sentence

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
But during the second year Soviet parachutists began to drop, a few at first, then more and more.
Second Variety|Philip Kindred Dick
Factories a long way under ground, behind the Soviet lines, factories that had once made atomic projectiles, now almost forgotten.
Second Variety|Philip Kindred Dick
The Soviet Union had gained great initial success, usual with the side that got the war going.
Second Variety|Philip Kindred Dick
You might have started for the Soviet lines without knowing anything about the work of the other varieties.
Second Variety|Philip Kindred Dick
The people, their costumes—definitely not Pan-Soviet uniforms—and the room and its machines, told him nothing.
Hunter Patrol|Henry Beam Piper and John J. McGuire

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

soviet

Origin of soviet

OTHER WORDS FROM soviet

Words nearby soviet

Words related to soviet

How to use soviet in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for soviet (1 of 2)

Word Origin for soviet

British Dictionary definitions for soviet (2 of 2)