leftist

or Left·ist

[ lef-tist ]

noun

1. a member of the political Left or a person sympathetic to its views.

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or advocated by the political Left.

leftist

/ ˈlɛftɪst /

adjective

1. of, tending towards, or relating to the political left or its principles

noun

1. a person who supports or belongs to the political left

leftist

1. One who holds a left-wing viewpoint; someone who seeks radical social and economic change in the direction of greater equality.

Derived Forms

• ˈleftism, noun

Other Words From

• leftism noun
• anti·leftist adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of leftist¹

First recorded in 1920–25; left ¹ + -ist

Example Sentences

A ceasefire by leftist rebels in Colombia could close the last one.

From The Daily Beast

And then, if Pope Francis is still with us, we may well see the leftist saints come marching in.

From The Daily Beast

If modernism was going to be acceptable, its leftist leanings had to be gotten rid of.

From The Daily Beast

Pollsters have been predicting disillusioned leftist voters are particularly likely to abstain.

From The Daily Beast

It stands, in short, for everything a leftist should detest.

From The Daily Beast

I remember several of the Dallas real conservatives called that Dallas council very leftist.

From Project Gutenberg

I don't think you can call a man an extreme leftist, rightist, or middle-of-the-roader and have him classified that simply.

From Project Gutenberg

Ray has always had the propaganda that he is a leftist and that he is Castro without Castro.

From Project Gutenberg

Gramsci, the Sardinian leftist philosopher, suggested the need for a language of the proletariat.

From Project Gutenberg

I have in mind—was this in your opinion a rightist plot, a leftist plot, an anarchist plot?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agitator
• anarchist
• extremist
• fanatic
• firebrand
• insurgent
• militant
• progressive
• rebel
• reformer
• renegade
• revolutionary
• rioter
• subversive