# Marxist

/ˈmɑɹksəst/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. a follower of Marx

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

someone who believes in the political and economic ideas of Karl Marx, focusing on the struggle between social classes.

For teachers: an adherent of the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, particularly concerning class struggle and the critique of capitalism.

- The professor is a well-known Marxist who writes about how workers are treated.
- As a committed Marxist, the historian argued that the revolution was an inevitable result of the widening gap between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie.

Teaching tip: While often used interchangeably with 'socialist' or 'communist' in casual speech, in academic contexts it specifically refers to the analytical framework of Karl Marx.

### 2. relating to Marxism

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

describing something that follows or uses the ideas of Karl Marx.

For teachers: relating to or characteristic of the theories of Karl Marx; typically used as a non-gradable attributive adjective.

- She used a Marxist approach to explain why some countries are poor.
- The student provided a Marxist analysis of the film, focusing on the power dynamics between the wealthy characters and their servants.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

## Examples

- The professor is a well-known Marxist.
- As a dedicated Marxist, she argued that the new labor laws did not go far enough to protect the working class.
- While some scholars focus on his economic data, others analyze him as a Marxist who prioritizes the social relations of production over simple market statistics.

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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.