separatist

noun

sep·​a·​rat·​ist ˈse-p(ə-)rə-tist 

ˈse-pə-ˌrā-

: one that favors separatism: such as

a

capitalized : one of a group of 16th and 17th century English Protestants preferring to separate from rather than to reform the Church of England

b

: an advocate of independence or autonomy for a part of a political unit (such as a nation)

c

: an advocate of racial or cultural separation

separatist adjective

separatistic

ˌse-p(ə-)rə-ˈti-stik 

adjective

Examples of separatist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The region is internationally considered part of Azerbaijan but for decades was under the control of Armenian separatists. —Caitlin Danaher and Gul Tuysuz, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025

Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago and has gobbled up big chunks of the Donbas region that had been controlled by pro-Kremlin separatists since 2014. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025

While offering no such counterforce, U.S. miners and engineers would offer juicy targets for Russian special forces or pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine who are disgruntled with Kyiv or U.S. mining efforts. —William Walldorf, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025

In the nineties, Limonov joined separatists fighting in Georgia and Moldova. —James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing separatist

• anti-separatist

Kids Definition

separatist

noun

sep·​a·​rat·​ist ˈsep(-ə)-rət-əst 

: a person who favors separation (as from a church or party)

separatism

-rə-ˌtiz-əm

noun

separatist adjective