Yeltsin

American

[yelt-sin] / ˈjɛlt sɪn /

noun

Boris Nikolayevich 1931–2007, president of the Russian Federation 1991–99.

Yeltsin British

/ jeltsin, ˈjɛltsɪn /

noun

Boris ( Nicolayevich ). 1931–2007, Russian politician: president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (1990–91); president of Russia (1991–99)

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Dmitri had to give up his dream of joining the KGB when his hope that the new president, Boris Yeltsin, would be removed by the remnants of the Communist regime were dashed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Putin, a former KGB agent, became the president of Russia after Boris Yeltsin stepped down in December 1999.

From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025

The coup’s leaders also wanted to arrest Boris Yeltsin, the new, progressive leader of Soviet Russia.

From Slate • Nov. 13, 2025

Bush team’s revised thinking about Boris Yeltsin, Ukrainian independence and Central Europe’s new democracies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 4, 2025

As one of his final acts, Gorbachev passed the Soviet nuclear codes—which could initiate a nuclear missile launch—to Boris Yeltsin, the president of the Russian Federation.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023