# ist

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ist
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. follower of an ideology

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a person who follows or supports a specific belief, system, or 'ism'.

For teachers: a practitioner, proponent, or adherent of a specific ideology or 'ism'.

- He was a dedicated ist who spent his life promoting the movement's core values.
- The philosopher argued that the modern ist is often more concerned with tribal identity than with the rigorous application of the original doctrine.

## Examples

- He is a dedicated ist who follows every rule.
- The critic dismissed the painter as a mere ist, suggesting his work followed a trend rather than true inspiration.
- In academic circles, being labeled an ist of any variety can imply a lack of intellectual flexibility, as it suggests the individual is bound by a specific, pre-defined framework of thought.

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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.