anarchist

noun

an·​ar·​chist ˈa-nər-kist 

-ˌnär-

1

: a person who rebels against any authority, established order, or ruling power

2

: a person who believes in, advocates, or promotes anarchism or anarchy

especially : one who uses violent means to overthrow the established order

anarchist adjective

or anarchistic

ˌa-nər-ˈki-stik 

-(ˌ)när-

Examples of anarchist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Throughout the late nineteenth century and much of the twentieth, Jewish socialists, liberals, anarchists, and Zionists all saw their respective political programs as offering a remedy for anti-Semitism. —Daniel May, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

There’s a character who is an anarchist, and anarchism becomes a thread through the whole book. —Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025

Zinn’s spare and striking specifics are always memorable, like the wonderful detail in his second essay about Ben Reitman, an anarchist, doctor for the poor, and Emma Goldman’s lover. —James Folta, Literary Hub, 30 July 2025

Christian Slater plays the mysterious anarchist Mr. Robot. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 4 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

anarchy + -ist entry 1; as a proponent of a political theory after French anarchiste.

Note: The use of the French words anarchisme and anarchiste in reference to political theory are associated with Pierre-Joseph proudhon. In his first major work, Qu'est-ce que la propriété? Recherche sur le principe du droit et du gouvernement (Paris, 1840), Proudhon used anarchiste (p.229), but not anarchisme.

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

anarchist

noun

an·​ar·​chist ˈan-ər-kəst 

-ˌär-

: a person who believes in anarchism or anarchy or practices anarchy

anarchist adjective

or anarchistic

ˌan-ər-ˈkis-tik 

-(ˌ)är-