Marxism

Etymology

It is formed from English Marx + -ism, from the name of Karl Heinrich Marx (1818–83), the German-born political theorist and economist,^[2][3][4] perhaps after French marxisme (1882) or German Marxismus (1878 or earlier).^[2][5] Barnhart and Etymonline take it as probably borrowed from the French word.^[3][6] The agent noun Marxist is recorded earlier, from 1873.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The ideas, theories and methods of Karl Marx: 1883, in the periodical Liberty.^[2] Etymonline dates the word to 1885, with Karl Marxism from 1884;^[6] Merriam-Webster Unabridged gives 1887,^[4] and Barnhart 1897.^[3]

Semantic evolution

From the start the word referred especially to the political and economic theories that Marx developed with Friedrich Engels, and it was later extended to the theories of their followers.^[2][4] Marxism-Leninism, its development by Lenin, is attested by 1932.^[6]

Timeline

• 1883 – the theories of Karl Marx.^[2] Etymonline dates the word to 1885, with Karl Marxism from 1884.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. The political, economic and social theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, which hold that human institutions are shaped by economic conditions, that class struggle drives historical change, and that capitalism will give way to socialism and finally to a classless communist society.^[4][7][8][2]
2. The policies and movements based on these theories, and their later developments.^[4][2]

Word family

• Marxism-Leninism

Related words

• Marxian
• Marxist
• -ism

Usage notes

The OED and the Shorter Oxford also record a punning Marxism from 1933 for the anarchic comedy of the Marx Brothers, or a witticism typical of them.^[2][5]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
4. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
8. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (online 2024), 5th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt