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

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

Only in the latter half of its 44-year run fighting Soviets and protecting popes has the G-class served as a glorified Rodeo Drive shopping cart. —Clifford Atiyeh, Car and Driver, 16 Aug. 2023

Adjective

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and NATO allies fear Moscow has more ambitions in the former Soviet sphere, especially the Baltic states. —Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025

More influential than anti-Communist diatribes were the reminders that there was a world outside Soviet propaganda; each book read was a bid to avoid brainwashing, to not become a tool of the state. —Valorie Castellanos Clark, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 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"