separatist

noun

sep·​a·​rat·​ist ˈse-p(ə-)rə-tist 

ˈse-pə-ˌrā-

: one that favors separatism: such as

a

Separatist : 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

separatist adjective

separatistic

ˌse-p(ə-)rə-ˈti-stik 

adjective

Examples of separatist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Zionism was loud, insistent, separatist, tribal. —Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026

The flashpoint moment of Gezi Park, the terrorist attacks, the resumed conflict with Kurdish separatists, the schism between Gülen and Erdoğan, all of this was outside my glittery bubble of understanding. —Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026

Saudi Arabi accused the UAE of supporting the separatists, and smuggling the STC leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who is wanted for treason, out of Yemen and flying him to Abu Dhabi. —Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026

Much of it has been blamed on Baloch separatists and the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, which is a separate group but allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban. —Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing separatist

• anti-separatist

Kids Definition

separatist

noun

sep·​a·​rat·​ist ˈsep(-ə)-rət-əst 

: a person who favors separation (as from a church or party)

separatism

-rə-ˌtiz-əm

noun

separatist adjective