statist

¹ American  

[stey-tist] / ˈsteɪ tɪst /

noun

1. an advocate of statism.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a statist or statism.

statist ² American  

[stat-ist] / ˈstæt ɪst /

noun

1. statistician.

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statist British  

/ ˈsteɪtɪst /

noun

1. an advocate of statism

2. a less common name for a statistician

3. archaic a politician or statesman

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adjective

1. of, characteristic of, advocating, or relating to statism

Etymology

Origin of statist¹

First recorded in 1575–85; state + -ist

Origin of statist²

Shortened form

Explanation

In politics, a statist is someone who believes that a central government should control many aspects of law, the economy, and social policies. Most people labeled statists are in favor of a very strong national government, or state. Politically, the direct opposite of a statist is an anarchist, someone who advocates for a completely stateless society. There are different political systems that can be considered statist, including authoritarianism, a form of government with an absolute ruler, and socialism, in which there is governmental control over industry. What these statist systems have in common is a strong central government.

Example Sentences

It’s a mistake to think that the only way to beat China is to emulate its statist model.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

“I always think it’s really funny when people are all about crypto and permission-less financial innovation, but then the minute they lose money, they become like the most statist people imaginable,” Demirors said.

From The Verge • Jun. 10, 2021

But he helped chart a course for the future British Empire, which learned to be more freewheeling and commercial, less draconian and statist than its Spanish forebear.

From New York Times • Mar. 10, 2021

This private-equity fund, using money appropriated by Congress, is helping finance new small and medium-size businesses that are creating jobs and entrepreneurial energy in the sometimes moribund, statist Egyptian economy.

From Washington Post • Apr. 4, 2019

Both east and west were stiflingly bureaucratic, statist, profoundly illiberal and comprehensively regulated.

From The Belgian Curtain Europe after Communism by Vaknin, Samuel