socialist

noun

so·​cial·​ist ˈsō-sh(ə-)list 

1

: one who advocates or practices socialism

2

Socialist : a member of a party or political group advocating socialism

socialist adjective

often Socialist

socialistic

ˌsō-shə-ˈli-stik 

adjective

socialistically

ˌsō-shə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of socialist

• communist

Examples of socialist in a Sentence

a lifelong socialist who never lost faith in his cause

Recent Examples on the Web

Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, was elected mayor of New York City, a Democratic stronghold that saw the highest voter turnout in a mayor’s race in 50 years. —John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026

The primary has made a growing schism between progressives and democratic socialists in New York City apparent. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026

Mamdani’s sudden rise to prominence after his stunning upset victory over Cuomo in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, and his self-identification as a democratic socialist, has caused consternation among some of the city’s business elite. —Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026

The loudest calls for taxing the ultra-rich amid this year’s Davos summit aren’t coming from hooded anarchists or revolutionary socialists, but from the one-percenters themselves. —Joe Wilkins Published Jan 22, Futurism, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing socialist

• anti-socialist
• socialist realism