Etymologically
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revolutionary

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 13:12. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌɹɛvəˈluːʃənɹi/, /-ˈljuː-/ (UK); /ˌɹɛvəˈluʃənɛɹi/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from revolution and -ary,[2][3][4] partly after French révolutionnaire.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Pertaining to a revolution in government: 1774 in the OED and Etymonline;[5][2] MWU dates it to 1694.[3]

Semantic evolution

Revolving, marked by rotation, is from 1832.[5] The noun, one who instigates or takes part in a revolution, is by 1850 (compare revolutionist),[2][5] and MWU dates it to 1795.[3] Involving a great or complete change, as a revolutionary new design, followed.[6][7]

Timeline

  • 1694 – first use (MWU).[3]
  • 1774 – of political revolution.[5][2]
  • 1832 – revolving.[5]
  • 1850 – a revolutionary (noun).[2][5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Involving or causing a complete or dramatic change: a revolutionary idea.
  2. Relating to or engaged in political revolution.
  3. (Revolutionary) Of a particular revolution, such as the American or French.

Noun

  1. A person who takes part in or supports a revolution.

Word family

  • revolutionarily
  • revolutionariness
  • nonrevolutionary
  • prorevolutionary
  • ultrarevolutionary
  • unrevolutionary
  • antirevolutionary
  • counterrevolutionary

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  7. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins