# leftist

/ˈɫɛftɪst/ (US) · /lˈɛftɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/leftist
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person with left-wing views

noun · CEFR B2

someone who supports political ideas that focus on social equality and often wants the government to help people more.

For teachers: an individual who supports the politics of the left, typically advocating for social reform, egalitarianism, and greater economic regulation.

- As a dedicated leftist, she spent her weekends campaigning for better public housing.
- The candidate struggled to unite the moderate wing of the party with the more radical leftists who demanded systemic economic change.

### 2. relating to left-wing politics

adjective · CEFR B2

describing political ideas or groups that want to reduce inequality and change how money is shared in society.

For teachers: pertaining to the political left or its ideologies, often used to describe policies, movements, or rhetoric.

- The university is known for its history of leftist student protests.
- The government faced criticism from leftist organisations for its decision to privatise the national railway system.

## Examples

- The young leftist joined the protest for better public housing.
- During the debate, the leftist argued that the government should increase taxes on the wealthy to fund schools.
- While the party maintains a broad coalition, the influence of the committed leftist wing is most visible in their recent proposals for universal basic income and environmental regulation.

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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.