comecon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic, Historical, Political
Quick answer
What does “comecon” mean?
The acronym for the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, an economic organization of Eastern Bloc countries (1949–1991).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The acronym for the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, an economic organization of Eastern Bloc countries (1949–1991).
1. The historical international organization coordinating economic cooperation among socialist states. 2. The collective economic system or trading bloc of the communist states during the Cold War. 3. (Metonymically) The centrally-planned, isolationist economic model associated with Eastern Bloc countries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; both use it as a historical term. Spelling is always 'Comecon' in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of a defunct, Soviet-dominated economic bloc.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary usage, found almost exclusively in historical texts, political science, and economics.
Grammar
How to Use “comecon” in a Sentence
Comecon + verb (was, dissolved, consisted of)adjective + Comecon (Soviet-led, defunct, historical)preposition + Comecon (within Comecon, outside Comecon, after Comecon)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “comecon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- Comecon-era industries struggled to compete globally.
- The Comecon system had inherent flaws.
American English
- Comecon-era industries struggled to compete globally.
- The Comecon system had inherent flaws.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; only in historical analysis of post-WWII international trade systems.
Academic
Standard term in Cold War history, political science, and comparative economics.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation outside historical discussion.
Technical
Used precisely to refer to the 1949-1991 organization and its policies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “comecon”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “comecon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “comecon”
- Writing it in lower case ('comecon'). Using it as a common noun ('a comecon'). Confusing it with 'Comintern' (the Communist International).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It stands for Council for Mutual Economic Assistance.
It was founded in 1949 and was officially dissolved in 1991.
Core members included the USSR, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Mongolia, Cuba, and Vietnam at various times.
It represented the Soviet Union's attempt to create an alternative economic sphere to the Western capitalist system during the Cold War.
The acronym for the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, an economic organization of Eastern Bloc countries (1949–1991).
Comecon is usually academic, historical, political in register.
Comecon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒmɪkɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːmɪkɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this proper noun]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COME and CONnect the Eastern Bloc economies.
Conceptual Metaphor
An economic prison (implying forced integration and lack of freedom). A rusting machine (for its inefficiency and eventual breakdown).
Practice
Quiz
Comecon was primarily: