# communism

/ˈkɑmjəˌnɪzəm/ (US) · /kˈɒmjuːnˌɪzəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/communism
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. political ideology

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

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

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- Life under communism was very different for people living in Eastern Europe during the Cold War.
- The transition from communism to a market economy proved to be a volatile period for many former Soviet republics.

### 3. oppressive control

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

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

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

- My boss won't even let us take a five-minute break; it's like communism in this office.
- Critics of the new city regulations dismissed the strict zoning laws as a form of local communism that infringed on private property rights.

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

## Examples

- Many countries in Eastern Europe lived under communism during the twentieth century.
- During the Cold War, the world was largely divided between nations that supported capitalism and those that followed communism.
- While theoretical communism envisions a stateless society where workers control the means of production, historical attempts to implement it have often resulted in highly centralized, authoritarian regimes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.