socialist
noun
so·cial·ist
ˈsō-sh(ə-)list 
1
: one who advocates or practices socialism
2
capitalized
: a member of a party or political group advocating socialism
socialist
adjective
often capitalized
Examples of socialist in a Sentence
a lifelong socialist who never lost faith in his cause
Recent Examples on the Web
Released Monday, on the official 60th anniversary of the historic freedom march, the first look captures the passionate, profound and often tumultuous journey of one of the country’s most significant civil rights activists, socialists, pacifists, labor unionists and gay rights advocates.
—
Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Aug. 2023
Jews were entrepreneurs and unionists, Zionists and socialists, poor and rich and middle class, religious and secular, politicians and artists and writers.
—Jane Eisner, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2023
Nancy: Early socialists who were really advocates of women’s rights, talked about the problems of inhabiting a system based entirely on competition that would tend to penalize anyone who allowed themselves to be encumbered by responsibilities for the care of others.
—How To Save A Country, The New Republic, 25 May 2023
Yet most reputable historians and political scientists would nonetheless classify fascists and Nazis as exemplars of the extreme far-right who were often murderously opposed to groups like socialists and communists and other members of the ideological left.
—Time, 22 Aug. 2023
Anderson was a democratic socialist, according to the staff writer Hendrik Hertzberg.
—Jonathan Lethem, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023
Our understanding of conservatives, liberals, radicals, and socialists was formed in the crucible of revolution.
—James Robins, The New Republic, 8 Aug. 2023
For Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris—a socialist who runs the city in an alliance with France’s Green and Communist parties—these matters are political: her opposition says that Paris has become rattier under her watch.
—Madeleine Schwartz, The New York Review of Books, 27 July 2023
Though no longer a socialist, Dostoyevsky could never shake his faith in the collective.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 24 July 2023
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Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Aug. 2023
Jews were entrepreneurs and unionists, Zionists and socialists, poor and rich and middle class, religious and secular, politicians and artists and writers.
—Jane Eisner, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2023
Nancy: Early socialists who were really advocates of women’s rights, talked about the problems of inhabiting a system based entirely on competition that would tend to penalize anyone who allowed themselves to be encumbered by responsibilities for the care of others.
—How To Save A Country, The New Republic, 25 May 2023
Yet most reputable historians and political scientists would nonetheless classify fascists and Nazis as exemplars of the extreme far-right who were often murderously opposed to groups like socialists and communists and other members of the ideological left.
—Time, 22 Aug. 2023
Anderson was a democratic socialist, according to the staff writer Hendrik Hertzberg.
—Jonathan Lethem, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023
Our understanding of conservatives, liberals, radicals, and socialists was formed in the crucible of revolution.
—James Robins, The New Republic, 8 Aug. 2023
For Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris—a socialist who runs the city in an alliance with France’s Green and Communist parties—these matters are political: her opposition says that Paris has become rattier under her watch.
—Madeleine Schwartz, The New York Review of Books, 27 July 2023
Though no longer a socialist, Dostoyevsky could never shake his faith in the collective.
—Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 24 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'socialist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing socialist
Dictionary Entries Near socialist
Cite this Entry
“Socialist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socialist. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on socialist
Nglish: Translation of socialist for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of socialist for Arabic Speakers
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