activist

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈæk.tɪ.vɪst/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is probably borrowed from German Aktivist, from aktiv, active, and -ist,^[2] or formed from English active + -ist.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A believer in philosophical activism: 1907 in Etymonline and MWU;^[3][2] the adjective is from 1897 in MWU and the philosophical sense 1908 in HTOED.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

One who advocates direct action is from 1915,^[3] originally of a political movement in Sweden urging the abandonment of neutrality in the First World War and active support for the Central Powers.^[3] A person engaged in vigorous political campaigning is from 1920 in HTOED,^[4] and the philosophical sense is now rare.^[4] Longman defines it as someone who works for social or political change, as in animal rights activist.^[5]

Timeline

• 1897 – the adjective.^[2]
• 1907 – a believer in activism.^[2]
• 1915 – an advocate of direct action.^[3]
• 1920 – a political campaigner.^[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A person who works actively for social or political change; a proponent of activism.
2. (philosophy) A believer in the philosophy of activism.

Adjective

1. Of, relating to or engaged in activism.

Word family

• nonactivist

Related words

• activism
• active
• act
• action

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Kay, Christian; Roberts, Jane; Samuels, Michael; Wotherspoon, Irené, eds. (2009), Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press; online edition (2024)
5. ^ Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2009), 5th ed., Harlow: Pearson Longman