activist

1 of 2

noun

ac·​tiv·​ist ˈak-ti-vist How to pronounce activist (audio)
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 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The 33-year-old state assemblyman has ensnared a wide net of seasoned billionaires and enthusiastic young activists, presented as a regular New Yorker who lived in Africa as a child. Alexandra Bregman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 An activist group called No Stage for Abusers also urged Brighton Centre and the city council to cancel the show through an online campaign. Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 30 June 2025
Adjective
Despite the activist enthusiasm, Tripadvisor’s fundamentals paint a more serious picture. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025 Daniels, a leader of the activist group known as The Heights Movement, said the animosity some feel toward Evendale goes beyond the old incorporation fight. Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for activist

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1920, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of activist was in 1917

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Activist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/activist. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on activist

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