Etymologically
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activist

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 14:18. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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

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