anarchist
anarchist Lexical Profile
anarchist Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who advocates for the abolition of government and state authority in favor of a society based on voluntary cooperation and free association.
"The political philosopher wrote extensively as an anarchist who envisioned communities organized through mutual aid."
A person who rebels against established authority, rules, or social order, or who promotes disorder.
"Critics dismissed the disruptive activist as a reckless anarchist with no constructive plan."
• adjective
Relating to, advocating, or characterized by anarchism or its proponents.
"The library holds a rare collection of nineteenth-century anarchist pamphlets and periodicals."
Word Nuance & Usage
In political philosophy, 'anarchist' refers specifically to an advocate of a stateless, voluntary society, whereas in popular usage it is frequently used pejoratively to mean a promoter of lawless chaos.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 17th century from French 'anarchiste', derived from Ancient Greek 'anarkhia' ('lack of a leader'), combining 'an-' ('without') and 'arkhos' ('chief, ruler').