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cheka: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1/C2 - Rare
UK/ˈtʃekə/US/ˈtʃekə/

Academic, historical

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Quick answer

What does “cheka” mean?

A historical Soviet secret police organization established after the Russian Revolution (1917-22).

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A historical Soviet secret police organization established after the Russian Revolution (1917-22).

The term often refers specifically to the organization (the Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage) or is used as a historical label for early Soviet state security. By extension, it can symbolize the onset of political repression in the USSR.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences. Both use it as a transliterated proper noun for the historical entity. Spelling is consistent.

Connotations

Connotes early Soviet political terror, secret police origins, historical analysis of totalitarianism.

Frequency

Extremely rare in general usage. Appears almost exclusively in academic historical texts, biographies of the period, or discussions of Soviet/Russian state security history.

Grammar

How to Use “cheka” in a Sentence

[The] Cheka [past tense verb]...

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
the ChekaCheka agentsCheka headquartersfounder of the Cheka (Felix Dzerzhinsky)Soviet Cheka
medium
the original Chekathe Cheka was establishedCheka's methods
weak
Cheka officialCheka terrorLenin's Cheka

Examples

Examples of “cheka” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • Cheka methods were notoriously brutal.
  • He was a Cheka operative.

American English

  • Cheka tactics involved widespread arrests.
  • The Cheka apparatus was fearsome.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in historical, political science, and Russian studies contexts to denote the first Soviet security apparatus.

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

Specific term in Soviet/Russian historiography.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “cheka”

Strong

early Soviet secret policeBolshevik secret police (1917-1922)

Neutral

the Extraordinary Commission

Weak

state securitypolitical police (historical context)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “cheka”

civil libertiesdue processpolitical freedom

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “cheka”

  • Using 'cheka' as a common noun (e.g., 'a cheka' – incorrect).
  • Pronouncing it with a /k/ sound at the beginning (like 'check') instead of /tʃ/ (like 'cheque').

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a direct transliteration of the Russian abbreviation (ЧК) adopted into English as a proper noun for historical reference.

It is pronounced /ˈtʃekə/, with a 'ch' as in 'check' and a short final 'a' as in 'about'.

The Cheka was reorganised into the GPU (State Political Directorate) in 1922, which later evolved into the NKVD and eventually the KGB.

Yes, 'chekist' is also used in historical/analytical English writing to refer to a member of the Cheka or, more broadly, to a member of Soviet/Russian security services.

A historical Soviet secret police organization established after the Russian Revolution (1917-22).

Cheka is usually academic, historical in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: CHEKA = CHECks everyone - the secret police that checked on (and arrested) political opponents.

Conceptual Metaphor

THE CHEKA IS THE ORIGINAL BLUEPRINT (for later Soviet repressive organs like the NKVD and KGB).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The , founded by Felix Dzerzhinsky, was the precursor to the KGB.
Multiple Choice

What does 'Cheka' specifically refer to?