comintern: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowHistorical, Academic, Political
Quick answer
What does “comintern” mean?
An international organization of communist parties, founded by Lenin in 1919 to promote world revolution.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An international organization of communist parties, founded by Lenin in 1919 to promote world revolution; also known as the Communist International.
A term used historically to refer to the centralized international body that directed the activities of communist parties worldwide. In modern contexts, it can be used figuratively or pejoratively to describe any perceived centralized, international communist coordination or conspiracy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; the term is used identically in historical and political discourse in both regions.
Connotations
Connotations are identical: strong historical and political associations, often linked to Cold War rhetoric, espionage, and ideological conflict.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to historical, political, and academic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “comintern” in a Sentence
the + CominternComintern + noun (agent/policy/archives)adjective + Comintern (historical/dissolved)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “comintern” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No verb form in standard use)
American English
- (No verb form in standard use)
adverb
British English
- (No adverb form in standard use)
American English
- (No adverb form in standard use)
adjective
British English
- Comintern-line parties faced internal dissent.
- He studied Comintern archives in Moscow.
American English
- Comintern directives shaped party policy.
- The agent had a Comintern background.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and international relations texts to discuss 20th-century communism and Soviet foreign policy.
Everyday
Extremely rare; might appear in historical documentaries or political commentary.
Technical
Used as a precise historical term in historiography and political analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “comintern”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “comintern”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “comintern”
- Misspelling as 'Cominter', 'Comitern'. Using it as a general term for any communist group rather than the specific historical organization.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a contraction of 'Communist International'.
It was founded in 1919 and formally dissolved in 1943.
No, it was officially dissolved. However, the term is sometimes used rhetorically to describe perceived centralized communist influence.
The Comintern (1919-1943) aimed at world revolution. The Cominform (1947-1956) was a post-WWII organization for coordinating communist parties, primarily in Europe, under Soviet control.
An international organization of communist parties, founded by Lenin in 1919 to promote world revolution.
Comintern is usually historical, academic, political in register.
Comintern: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒmɪntɜːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːmɪntɜːrn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COMMunist INTERNational = COMINTERN. It was the international HQ for communist parties.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often metaphorically depicted as a 'puppet master' or 'central command' controlling global communist movements.
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary purpose of the Comintern?