separatist

[ sep-er-uh-tist, -uh-rey- ]

noun

1. a person who separates, withdraws, or secedes, as from an established church.
2. an advocate of separation, especially ecclesiastical or political separation.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating separatism or separatists:

   separatist forces;

   separatist tendencies.

separatist

¹

/ ˈsɛpərətɪst; ˈsɛprə- /

noun

1. 1. a person who advocates or practises secession from an organization or group
   2. ( as modifier )

      a separatist movement

Separatist

²

/ ˈsɛprə-; ˈsɛpərətɪst /

noun

1. sometimes not capital a person who advocates the secession of a province, esp Quebec, from Canada

Derived Forms

• ˈseparaˌtism, noun
• ˌseparaˈtistic, adjective
• ˈSeparaˌtism, noun

Other Words From

• sep·a·ra·tism noun
• an·ti·sep·a·ra·tist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of separatist¹

First recorded in 1600–10; separate (adjective) + -ist

Example Sentences

“Reminder that the 4B movement, and the separatist movement in general, isn’t just about avoiding men—it’s also about supporting and investing in women,” read another.

From Los Angeles Times

A separatist militant group, the Baloch Liberation Army, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

From BBC

The advisory panel now seeks to audit the March primary, and one of its members in October joined a political separatist group in presenting the county with a “cease and desist” letter declaring the California election process to be “fraudulent.”

From Los Angeles Times

In 1999, Kurdish separatist leader Abdullah Öcalan was apprehended by Turkish forces in the country and taken back home where he was put on trial, and later convicted, for treason.

From BBC

There were, however, a handful of former players who wished to remain in Donetsk under the DPR, including former captain Viktor Zvyagintsev, who was on a Ukraine government website listing people it accused of terrorism by association with separatist rebels.

From BBC

Related Words

• dissident
• protester
• rebel