Menshevik

or men·she·vik

[ men-shuh-vik; Russian myin-shi-vyeek ]

noun

, plural Men·she·viks, Men·she·vik·i [men, -sh, uh, -vik-ee, -vee-kee, myin-shi-vyi-, kyee].

1. a member of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers' Party in opposition to the Bolsheviks: advocated gradual development of full socialism through parliamentary government and cooperation with bourgeois parties; absorbed into the Communist party formed in 1918.

Menshevik

/ ˈmɛnʃɪvɪk /

noun

1. a member of the moderate wing of the Russian Social Democratic Party, advocating gradual reform to achieve socialism Compare Bolshevik

Derived Forms

• ˈMenshevism, noun

Other Words From

• Men·she·vism [men, -sh, uh, -viz-, uh, m], noun
• Menshe·vist adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Menshevik¹

1905–10; < Russian menʾshevík, equivalent to ménʾsh ( iĭ ) lesser (comparative of málenʾkiĭ small; compare menʾshinstvó minority) + -evik, variant of -ovik noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of Menshevik¹

C20: from Russian, literally: minority, from menshe less, from malo few

Example Sentences

On an early date in a romantic Chelsea bistro, the two argued at length over the comparative power of the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks during the Russian Revolution.

From Washington Post

The Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks were competing factions of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party of the early 1900s.

From Fox News

Election banners advocate the Poale Zion, a Jewish party aligned with the Mensheviks.

From New York Times

A bankruptcy case for the Menshevik factory is due to be heard in Moscow in January, according to court filings.

From Seattle Times

The “Menshevik” factory building, in south-east Moscow, has been cordoned off by the police, which is trying to make a contact with the gunman and free the hostages, RIA said.

From Reuters