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Leninism

American  
[len-uh-niz-uhm] / ˈlɛn əˌnɪz əm /

noun

  1. the form of Communism as taught by Lenin, with emphasis on the dictatorship of the proletariat.

Leninism British  
/ ˈlɛnɪˌnɪzəm /

noun

  1. the political and economic theories of Lenin

  2. another name for Marxism-Leninism

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • Leninist noun

Etymology

Origin of Leninism

First recorded in 1915–20; Lenin + -ism

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ms. Mitchell joined more than 100 other party members in calling for the party to reject Leninism and take a more democratic socialist path.

From New York Times • Dec. 23, 2022

One would introduce me to what Leninism was.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 25, 2019

His alleged Leninism is to be found here.

From The Guardian • Dec. 7, 2016

At the same time, he knew the military limitations of the militias, was never going to be convinced by his own side’s incipient Leninism, and remained a supporter of the Republic.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2014

It came to be used interchangeably with Leninism, as a synonym.

From Bolshevism The Enemy of Political and Industrial Democracy by Spargo, John

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.