soviet

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

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.

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 formsso·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

Related Words for soviets

assembly, congress, diet, parliament, soviet

Examples from the Web for soviets

Contemporary Examples of soviets

But why did the generals feel the need to rely on these groups, even after the Soviets left Afghanistan?
Pakistan’s Dance With Terrorists Just Backfired and Killed 132 Children
Chris Allbritton
December 17, 2014
Reagan learned this in the midst of negotiating historic arms-reduction treaties with the Soviets at the height of the Cold War.
It’s Time to Nail the Iran Nuke Deal
Rep. Rush Holt, Kate Gould
October 15, 2014
The Soviets got to the far side of the Moon first, and the mystery they found remains.
The USSR’s Race to the Moon’s Far Side
Matthew R. Francis
October 12, 2014
Beck was totally unaware that earlier that morning the Soviets had shot down a Korean airliner in the Sea of Japan.
The Intern Who Birthed The KAL007 Conspiracy Theories
Tim Mak
September 8, 2014
He fought with the Soviets, then led the cavalry and B-52 bombers to rout the Taliban.
The Warlord Who Defines Afghanistan: An Excerpt From Bruce Riedel’s ’What We Won’
Bruce Riedel
July 27, 2014

Historical Examples of soviets

This will be a politic move for the Soviets as well as England.
Erik Dorn
Ben Hecht
His only interest in all this was the overthrow of the Soviets.
Revolution
Dallas McCord Reynolds
When they start shelling from underwater, the Soviets are sure going to be surprised.
The Defenders
Philip K. Dick
Of course, in so far as that Government submits to the will of the Soviets?
The Russian Turmoil
Anton Ivanovich Denikin
"If he does that he'll recognize the Soviets," said Henslowe.
Three Soldiers
John Dos Passos

British Dictionary definitions for soviets

Soviets

noun

the people or government of the former Soviet Union

soviet

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

Soviet

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

Word Origin and History for soviets

soviet

1917, from Russian sovet "governing council," literally "council," from Old Russian suvetu "assembly," from su "with" (from *su(n)- "with, together," from PIE *ksun- "with") + vetu "counsel." The whole is a loan-translation of Greek symboulion "council of advisers." As an adjective from 1918.