English Reference
noun · adjective

communist

n. · adj.
US /ˈkɑmjənəst/ UK /kˈɒmjuːnˌɪst/ com·mu·nist UK spelling communist's, communist's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.someone who believes that all property should be owned by the community and shared equally.

    n.an advocate of a social and economic system based on the common ownership of the means of production.

    Simple

    The young student became a communist after reading books about social equality.

    In context

    As a committed communist, he spent his weekends distributing pamphlets that argued for the total abolition of private property.

    collectivistmarxist
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a member of a political group called the Communist Party.

    n.a formal member of a political party that officially espouses the principles of communism.

    Simple

    In some countries, you must be a communist to hold a high position in the government.

    In context

    The local communist official was responsible for overseeing the distribution of resources within the industrial district.

    party member
  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.describing something that follows or relates to the ideas of communism.

    adj.relating to, advocating, or characteristic of communism or a Communist Party.

    Simple

    The country underwent a communist revolution that changed its entire economy.

    In context

    The historian analyzed the impact of communist doctrine on the development of twentieth-century labor unions in Western Europe.

    socialistcollectivist
    capitalistindividualist
  4. 04 C1 Advanced Informal

    n.a word sometimes used to describe any person who wants to make big, radical changes to society.

    n.a term used, often pejoratively or loosely, to describe any revolutionary or subversive radical regardless of their specific ideology.

    Simple

    During the protests, some people called the activists communists just because they wanted change.

    In context

    In the heated political climate of the 1950s, any individual who questioned the status quo risked being labeled a communist by their detractors.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is often used as an insult or a broad label for anyone with left-wing views; learners should be aware of its biased nature in political speech.

After his death, state media described Zhu as an "outstanding member of the Chinese Communist Party" and a "time-tested and loyal Communist fighter".

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026

For those at Balachadi in 1945, this meant relocating to a country under the thumb of the communist power that had deported them to Siberia in the first place.

Smithsonian Magazine· 22 Jul 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated