Yeltsin

American  

[yelt-sin] / ˈjɛlt sɪn /

noun

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

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Yeltsin British  

/ ˈjɛltsɪn, jeltsin /

noun

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Yeltsin

He had taken power on the last day of 1999, when Boris Yeltsin resigned.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

For Pozhidaeva, the suspicion traces back to her father, who told the Journal he worked for Russia’s armed forces until 1996, retiring during the Boris Yeltsin era.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 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

But Yeltsin managed to take refuge inside the parliament building in Moscow.

From Slate ● Nov. 13, 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