Main Entry:

Men·she·vik

Pronunciation:

\ˈmen(t)-shə-ˌvik, -ˌvēk\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural Mensheviks or Men·she·vi·ki \ˌmen(t)-shə-ˈvi-kē, -ˈvē-kē\

Etymology:

Russian men'shevik, from men'she less; from their forming the minority group of the party

Date:

1907

: a member of a wing of the Russian Social Democratic party before and during the Russian Revolution believing in the gradual achievement of socialism by parliamentary methods in opposition to the Bolsheviks

— Men·she·vism \ˈmen(t)-shə-ˌvi-zəm\ noun

— Men·she·vist \-vist\ noun or adjective