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marxisme

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Etymology and origin of the French word marxisme

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation, Eponym
First attested
1882 Paul Brousse, Le Marxisme dans l'Internationale More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
French Marx,-isme

Pronunciation

  • /maʁk.sism/[1]
  • /maʁk.sizm/[1]

Forms

marxisme m (plural marxismes)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French Marx + -isme, from the name of the German philosopher and economist Karl Marx (1818–1883).[2][3][1] The word followed marxiste, which is recorded ten years earlier, in 1872.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1882, in the title of a pamphlet by Paul Brousse, Le Marxisme dans l'Internationale, for the body of ideas worked out by Marx and Engels from 1845–1846.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The word names the whole of Marx's and Engels's doctrine: dialectical and historical materialism, the critique of political economy and scientific socialism.[2][3] Its scope shifted among their successors with the course of revolutionary struggle and changing conditions of production.[3]

The 20th century added antimarxisme (early 20th century) and, after the Russian Revolution and Lenin's revision of Marx's thought, marxisme-léninisme (1933).[3]

Timeline

  • 1872 – Marxiste is recorded, first as an adjective.[3]
  • 1882 – Marxisme appears in the title of Paul Brousse's pamphlet.[2][3]
  • Early 20th century – Antimarxisme and antimarxiste appear.[3]
  • 1933 – Marxisme-léninisme is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Marxism: the philosophical, social and economic doctrine of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and their followers, comprising dialectical materialism and historical materialism.[4][2]
  2. Any of the movements, parties or states that claim to follow this doctrine: un syndicat qui se réclame du marxisme.[4][5]

Word family

  • antimarxisme
  • marxisme-léninisme
  • marxiste

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
Cite this entry

“Marxisme.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/marxisme. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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