soviet

1 of 2

noun

so·​vi·​et ˈsō-vē-ˌet 

ˈsä-,

-vē-ət

1

: an elected governmental council in a Communist country

2

Soviets plural

a

: bolsheviks

b

: the people and especially the political and military leaders of the Soviet Union

sovietism

ˈsō-vē-ə-ˌti-zəm 

ˈsä-

noun often capitalized

Soviet

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Soviet Union or its people

Soviet history/policy

a Soviet spy

Soviet dissidents

Examples of soviet in a Sentence

Noun

disputes between Americans and Soviets

The plan was opposed by the Soviets.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In September, the United States responded by expelling 25 Soviets from their UN mission in New York, and the next month, another 55 from the Soviet embassy in Washington and the consulate in San Francisco. —Daniel Fried, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2018

Only in the latter half of its 44-year run fighting Soviets and protecting popes has the G-class served as a glorified Rodeo Drive shopping cart. —Clifford Atiyeh, Car and Driver, 16 Aug. 2023

Adjective

Founded in 1845 and based in the small eastern German town of Glashütte in Saxony, A. Lange & Söhne had been nationalized and shuttered by the Soviet state following World War II. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2024

In 1948, after defecting from his sect, Chambers delivered devastating testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee accusing Hiss, a former State Department official and a paragon of the liberal establishment, of being a Soviet spy. —Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Russian sovet council, soviet

First Known Use

Noun

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1920, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing soviet

• anti-Soviet
• Supreme Soviet

Kids Definition

soviet

noun

so·​vi·​et ˈsōv-ē-ˌet 

ˈsäv-,

-ē-ət

1

a

: an elected governing council in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

2

plural capitalized : the people and especially the political and military leaders of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

soviet adjective often capitalized

Etymology

Noun

from Russian sovet "council"