Sinn Fein

[ shin feyn ]

noun

1. a political organization in Ireland, founded about 1905, advocating the complete political separation from Great Britain of a unified Ireland.
2. a member of this organization.

Sinn Féin

/ ˈʃɪn ˈfeːn /

noun

1. an Irish republican political movement founded about 1905 and linked to the revolutionary Irish Republican Army: divided into a Provisional and an Official movement since a similar split in the IRA in late 1969

Sinn Fein

1. An Irish political party (in Gaelic it means “Ourselves Alone”) that has long combatted Great Britain 's influence in Ireland and sought the unification of Northern Ireland with the Irish republic in the south; generally considered the political portion of the Irish Republican Army . One wing of it has engaged in terrorism .

Derived Forms

• Sinn Féiner, noun
• Sinn Féinism, noun

Other Words From

• Sinn Feiner noun
• Sinn Feinism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sinn Fein¹

From Irish sinn f éin “we ourselves”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Sinn Fein¹

C20: from Irish: we ourselves

Example Sentences

The immigration issue is eroding support for left-of-center Sinn Fein, the party once linked to the Irish Republican Army, which had been on track to become Ireland’s most popular party.

From Seattle Times

A total of 17 Labour MPs are also standing down, along with nine from the SNP, two from Sinn Fein, one from Plaid Cymru and one Green - the party's only MP, Caroline Lucas.

From BBC

The DUP agreed to return to power-sharing with the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein earlier this year following a series of assurances about Northern Ireland’s constitutional position within the United Kingdom.

From Seattle Times

Northern Ireland’s assembly, known as Stormont, can only function with the support of the biggest parties from across the sectarian divide, requiring the participation of both Sinn Fein, and the D.U.P.

From New York Times

Ireland’s main political parties all supported the changes, including centrist government coalition partners Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and the biggest opposition party, Sinn Fein.

From Seattle Times