soviet
n. countablen. a council or group of people who made decisions in the former Soviet Union. It can also refer to a citizen of that country.
n. an elected local, district, or national council in the former Soviet Union. Also used as a demonym for a citizen of the USSR.
The local soviet met once a week to discuss new rules.
During the early twentieth century, the workers' soviet became a powerful symbol of revolutionary organization in major cities.
The transition from local revolutionary soviets to a centralized bureaucratic apparatus fundamentally altered the distribution of political power within the fledgling state.
Usage
Often capitalized when referring to the historical political entity or its citizens.
Last updated May 2, 2026