Jacobin

1 of 2

noun (1)

Jac·​o·​bin ˈja-kə-bən 

1

: dominican entry 2

2

[French, from Jacobin Dominican; from the group's founding in the Dominican convent in Paris] : a member of an extremist or radical political group

especially : a member of such a group advocating egalitarian democracy and engaging in terrorist activities during the French Revolution of 1789

Jacobinic

ˌja-kə-ˈbi-nik 

adjective

or Jacobinical

ˌja-kə-ˈbi-ni-kəl 

Jacobinism

ˈja-kə-bə-ˌni-zəm 

noun

Jacobinism

2 of 2

noun (2)

Jaco·​bin·​ism

plural -s

: the principles and practice of the Jacobins:

a

: the egalitarianism and terrorism of the Jacobins of the French Revolution of 1789

b

: any violent or revolutionary political extremism

Jacobinism … means in practice government by a rabble

—G. H. Sabine

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French jacopin, from Medieval Latin Jacobinus, from Late Latin Jacobus (St. James); from the location of the first Dominican convent in the street of St. James, Paris

Noun (2)

French jacobinisme, from jacobin + -isme -ism

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1