separatist

noun

sep·a·rat·ist | \ ˈse-p(ə-)rə-tist

, ˈse-pə-ˌrā-\

Definition of separatist

: one that favors separatism: such as

a capitalized : one of a group of 16th and 17th century English Protestants preferring to separate from rather than to reform the Church of England

b : an advocate of independence or autonomy for a part of a political unit (such as a nation)

c : an advocate of racial or cultural separation

Other Words from separatist Example Sentences Learn More about separatist

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of separatist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Britain had historically had separate electorates for Muslim citizens and reserved some political seats specifically for Muslims; that not only hemmed Muslims into a minority status, but fueled a growing Muslim separatist movement. — Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, "The Kashmir conflict: How did it start?," 2 Mar. 2019 Sirisena was also critical of investigations into military personnel accused of human rights violations during Sri Lanka’s long civil war against a Tamil separatist group, which ended in 2009. — Bharatha Mallawarachi, The Seattle Times, "Deputy minister resigns as Sri Lanka political crisis grows," 6 Nov. 2018 This week that was lifted as the separatists formed a new government. — The Economist, "Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, assembles a reassuring team," 7 June 2018 However, a senior government official told The Associated Press that Prime Minister Ahmed Obaid Bin Daghar and several ministers remain inside and that the separatists have not seized the palace itself. — Time, "Yemen's Prime Minister Is Preparing to Flee as Separatists Reach Gates of the Presidential Palace," 30 Jan. 2018 Armed separatists have skirmished with road workers and the military, which is now overseeing highway construction. — Jennifer Smith, WSJ, "Today’s Logistics Report: Shrinking Japan’s Fleet; Squeezing the Grocers; Highway Dividing Lines," 8 Mar. 2019 Turkish troops also operate in the area, and consider the local Kurdish fighters allied with Kurdish separatists inside Turkey. — Raja Abdulrahim, WSJ, "At Least Four Americans Killed in Syria Attack Claimed by Islamic State," 16 Jan. 2019 At the same time separatist guerrillas from the Indian state of Assam created another internal conflict; they were eventually driven out by force in 2003. — Lawrence Osborne, Town & Country, "Why Everyone Is Traveling to Bhutan," 30 Mar. 2015 The showdown came amid the long-simmering conflict between the two countries, in which Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and supported separatists in Ukraine’s east with clandestine dispatches of troops and weapons. — Yuras Karmanau, The Seattle Times, "Putin derides Ukraine’s martial law as political trick," 28 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'separatist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.