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 Russians brought trinkets and Matryoshka dolls to sell, with Orsini telling author Martyn Thomas in his book World in Their Hands that her mother, a journalist, had taken an interest in the Soviets’ story. —Peter Carline, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025

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

Adjective

Ultimately, Putin does not appear to have yet changed his war calculus, and experts highlighted that there are some significant differences between Putin and his Soviet predecessor, Gorbachev, that make this upcoming talk vastly different. —Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Acheson offered to show him pictures of Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba to justify the decision. —Robert Hormats, Time, 12 Aug. 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"