collectivist

1 of 2

noun

col·​lec·​tiv·​ist kə-ˈlek-ti-vist 

plural -s

1

: an advocate or adherent of collectivism

2

: a member of a collective or collectivity

collectivist

2 of 2

adjective

col·​lec·​tiv·​ist kə-ˈlek-ti-vist 

variants or less commonly collectivistic

kə-¦lek-ti-¦vi-stik 

1

: favoring collectivism : based on the principles of collectivism

2

: relating to or having the characteristics of collectivism

collectivistically adverb

In strongly collectivistically-oriented societies, individual freedom tends to be rather low.

—Karl Erik Rosengren, Communication: An Introduction, 2000

Choose the Right Synonym for collectivist

socialist, communist: collectivist is likely to apply to a person approving or desiring greater control or outright ownership of major industries and resources by the state, presumably in the interests of a degree of economic equality among the whole people, this control or ownership to be achieved gradually and without violence but with some restriction on individual action.

socialist is a close synonym for collectivist in this sense, but is likely to evoke more of an emotional reaction than +communist" class="mw_t_sc">collectivist.

communist is likely to suggest one desiring more rigid and far-reaching control, often control achieved by force.

The words socialist and communist are naturally affected in their connotations by whatever particular Socialist or Communist Party or Socialism or Communism happens to be prominent in world affairs at the moment.

In matters historical or philosophical, the two words, especially the latter, may be used without praise or stigma to refer to persons favoring or accepting conditions in which the wishes and activities of the individual are checked and guided by the interests of the group, as in Plato's ideal republic, in ancient Sparta, or in some of the earliest Christian communities.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French collectiviste, from collectivisme + -iste -ist

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Rhymes for collectivist

• objectivist
• subjectivist