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communism

n.
US //ˈkɑmjəˌnɪzəm// UK //kˈɒmjuːnˌɪzəm// com·mu·nism
  1. 1 political ideology (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    a political system where the state or community owns all property and businesses, aiming for a society without different social classes.

    a far-left political ideology advocating for the collective ownership of resources and the eventual abolition of social classes, money, and the state.

    Example

    In school, we studied the history of communism and how it changed the world in the 20th century.

    Example

    The manifesto outlined a vision of communism where the proletariat would seize the means of production to end class exploitation.

    Usage

    Often capitalised as 'Communism' when referring to specific historical movements or regimes.
  2. 2 communist government (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a country or government that is run according to communist ideas.

    a state or social system governed by a party that follows communist principles, typically involving a command economy.

    Example

    Life under communism was very different for people living in Eastern Europe during the Cold War.

    Example

    The transition from communism to a market economy proved to be a volatile period for many former Soviet republics.
    • socialist state
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  1. 3 oppressive control (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal American English

    a way to describe rules or control that feel too strict, unfair, or bossy.

    a figurative use describing a state of affairs perceived as oppressive, arbitrary, or excessively totalitarian.

    Example

    My boss won't even let us take a five-minute break; it's like communism in this office.

    Example

    Critics of the new city regulations dismissed the strict zoning laws as a form of local communism that infringed on private property rights.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is often used as a hyperbolic insult in political arguments, particularly in the United States.
Origin

Etymology tree Old Latin comoinis Latin commūnis Old French comun French commun Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. Latin -ismusbor. French -isme French communismebor. English communism A borrowing from French communisme, which was formed from commun (“common”) (from Latin commūnis) and the suffix -isme (“-ism”). By surface analysis, commune + -ism.

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