communist manifesto: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low Frequency (Specialized)Academic, Political, Historical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “communist manifesto” mean?
A political pamphlet written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848, which outlines the principles and goals of communism and calls for the overthrow of capitalist society.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A political pamphlet written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848, which outlines the principles and goals of communism and calls for the overthrow of capitalist society.
Used to refer to the foundational document of Marxist theory, more broadly to denote any strong, radical declaration of principles, especially those advocating for the overthrow of an established social or economic order.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in terms of meaning and reference. Spelling of related words may differ (e.g., 'capitalise' vs. 'capitalize').
Connotations
Highly politically charged in both varieties, associated with revolutionary socialism, historical conflict (Cold War), and ideological debate.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK political and academic discourse due to the historical strength of Marxist scholarship and leftist political movements.
Grammar
How to Use “communist manifesto” in a Sentence
[Subject] + studied/analysed/wrote + the Communist ManifestoThe Communist Manifesto + [verb: outlines/calls for/declares] + [object]According to + the Communist ManifestoVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “communist manifesto” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The group sought to manifesto their ideals in a new charter. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- They attempted to manifesto their platform through a series of blog posts. (rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He has a rather communist-manifesto view of class struggle. (compound adjective, informal)
American English
- Her critique was of a communist-manifesto intensity. (compound adjective, informal)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in historical context or metaphorically for a radical business plan ('their strategy was a manifesto for change').
Academic
Frequently used in Political Science, History, Sociology, and Economics courses discussing Marxism, 19th-century history, or political theory.
Everyday
Rare. Used when discussing politics, history, or metaphorically ('his rant was a real communist manifesto against the bosses').
Technical
Core term in Marxist theory and historiography. Used with precise reference to the document's content and historical impact.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “communist manifesto”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “communist manifesto”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “communist manifesto”
- Incorrect article: 'The Communist Manifesto' (correct) vs. 'Communist Manifesto' (acceptable in titles/headings).
- Mis-capitalisation: It should be capitalised as a title.
- Misattribution: Stating it was written by Lenin or Stalin.
- Pronunciation: Mis-stressing 'manifesto' as MAN-i-fes-to instead of man-i-FES-to.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring specifically to the 1848 document by Marx and Engels, it is a proper noun and should be capitalised: 'the Communist Manifesto'.
It was commissioned by the Communist League and primarily written by Karl Marx, with contributions from Friedrich Engels. It is credited to both men.
The most famous phrases are the opening, 'A spectre is haunting Europe — the spectre of communism,' and the closing call to action: 'Workers of the world, unite!'
Yes, informally. For example, 'His long email was a real communist manifesto against the new office policy,' meaning it was a thorough, radical criticism.
A political pamphlet written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848, which outlines the principles and goals of communism and calls for the overthrow of capitalist society.
Communist manifesto is usually academic, political, historical, literary in register.
Communist manifesto: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒm.jə.nɪst ˌmæn.ɪˈfes.təʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑː.mjə.nɪst ˌmæn.əˈfes.toʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A [something] manifesto (e.g., a vegan manifesto) - used to denote any strong, public declaration of principles.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COMMUnist MANI-FESTO - a FESTival of MANIfest ideas for the COMMUnity (proletariat).
Conceptual Metaphor
A BLUEPRINT for revolution. A SCRIPT for historical change. A DECLARATION OF WAR (on capitalism).
Practice
Quiz
In what year was the Communist Manifesto first published?