activist

1 of 2

noun

ac·​tiv·​ist ˈak-ti-vist 

plural activists

: one who advocates or practices activism : a person who uses or supports strong actions (such as public protests) in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue

Antiwar activists were protesting in the streets.

an environmental activist

political activists

The conventional wisdom is that young people no longer care enough to stand up for what is important; that the days of activism and protest have faded into the past, the bailiwick of aging hippies and activists.

—The Easton (Massachusetts) Journal

activistic

ˌak-ti-ˈvi-stik 

adjective

What is news to me … is how much alike were the fears and concerns of both activistic Democrats and skeptical Republicans …

—Nathan Glazer

activist

2 of 2

adjective

: advocating or practicing activism : using or supporting strong actions in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue

For the activist groups that will carry the nomination fight to the public, the name of the game is hit early and often.

—Richard Lacayo

Pressing demands that are both global and granular, the activist investor has turned himself into one of the food sector's most influential players, affecting how millions of people eat each day.

—Julie Jargon

They plan to become activist shareholders who will protest global-warming resolutions and anything else that undermines corporate profitability.

—John J. Miller

Examples of activist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This week, Ben-Gvir sparked global outrage after promoting a video of himself taunting detained flotilla activists. —Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026

José Gonzales, director of Fuerza de los Barrios (Strength of the Neighborhoods), told him their work as community activists involved shaking apple trees for their community to enjoy the fruits of their labor. —Richard J. Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2026

Adjective

That underperformance attracted the attention of activist investor Starboard Value, but by the time news broke last year that Starboard had taken a stake and was pushing BD to divest its life sciences division, Polen’s team was just days away from announcing a plan to separate the unit. —Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 22 May 2026

Two other boats are still on their way to the Palestinian territory, according to the activist group's livestream. —May 19, CBS News, 19 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1920, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1917, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

activist

noun

ac·​tiv·​ist

ˈak-ti-vəst

: a person who believes in forceful action (as a mass demonstration) for political purposes

activism

-ˌviz-əm

noun