soviet

1 of 2

noun

so·​vi·​et ˈsō-vē-ˌet 

ˈsä-,

-vē-ət

1

: an elected governmental council in a Communist country

2

Soviets plural

a

: bolsheviks

b

: the people and especially the political and military leaders of the Soviet Union

sovietism

ˈsō-vē-ə-ˌti-zəm 

ˈsä-

noun often capitalized

Soviet

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Soviet Union or its people

Soviet history/policy

a Soviet spy

Soviet dissidents

Examples of soviet in a Sentence

Noun

disputes between Americans and Soviets

The plan was opposed by the Soviets.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The wheel/tire package off that rig would ably handle winter in Winnipeg or Manitoba. Ancestry and residual off-roading capability notwithstanding, G 63 is not meant for battling Soviets in the Fulda Gap, or serving with UN blue helmets in Bosnia or southern Lebanon. —Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

In September, the United States responded by expelling 25 Soviets from their UN mission in New York, and the next month, another 55 from the Soviet embassy in Washington and the consulate in San Francisco. —Daniel Fried, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2018

Adjective

The speech then described the specific military responses and possible additional replies if those first responses didn’t work, as well as an offer for US officials to discuss the problem with Soviet representatives through international forums. —Richard Cherwitz, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025

Progress was swift in a freewheeling media climate far removed from the restrictions of the Soviet era, but soon after assuming the presidency in 2000, Putin started turning the screw. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Russian sovet council, soviet

First Known Use

Noun

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1920, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing soviet

• anti-Soviet
• Supreme Soviet

Kids Definition

soviet

noun

so·​vi·​et ˈsōv-ē-ˌet 

ˈsäv-,

-ē-ət

1

a

: an elected governing council in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

2

plural capitalized : the people and especially the political and military leaders of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

soviet adjective often capitalized

Etymology

Noun

from Russian sovet "council"