Word of the Day

: May 24, 2007

apparatchik

noun ah-puh-RAH-chik

What It Means

1 : member of a Communist apparat

2 : a blindly devoted official, follower, or member of an organization (as a corporation or political party)

apparatchik in Context

The boss seemed to prefer apparatchiks to anyone with a glimmer of independent thought.

Did You Know?

In the context of the definition of "apparatchik" (a term English speakers borrowed from Russian), "apparat" essentially means "party machine." An "apparatchik," therefore, is a cog in the system of the Communist Party. The term is not an especially flattering one, and its negative connotations reflect the perception that some Communists were obedient drones in the great Party machine. In current use, however, a person doesn't have to be a member of the Communist Party to be called an "apparatchik"; he or she just has to be someone who mindlessly follows orders in an organization or bureaucracy.

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.