counterrevolutionary
C1Formal; Academic; Historical/Political discourse.
Definition
Meaning
A person or action opposing a revolution; seeking to overthrow a revolutionary government or reverse its changes.
Relating to, characteristic of, or engaged in organized opposition to a revolutionary government, its ideology, or its political/social changes. Often implies a reactionary or conservative stance against radical transformation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly politically charged term, often used pejoratively by supporters of a revolution. Can denote both a political actor and an ideological position. Implies an active, organized opposition rather than mere dissent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The spelling is occasionally hyphenated as 'counter-revolutionary' more often in British sources, but the closed form is standard in both.
Connotations
Strong historical connotations related to specific conflicts (e.g., Russian Civil War, Chinese Revolution, Cuban Revolution). In US discourse, may be used more broadly to describe opposition to perceived radical social changes.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday language. Most common in historical, political science, and sociological contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be/label/consider] + NP + (as) a counterrevolutionarycounterrevolutionary + NP (e.g., forces, activity)launch/carry out a counterrevolutionary + NP (e.g., campaign, action)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in political science, history, and sociology to describe actors/ideologies opposing revolutionary states or movements.
Everyday
Rare, except in discussions of history or extreme political change.
Technical
A specific term in Marxist-Leninist theory and historiography.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The government denounced the pamphlets as counterrevolutionary literature.
- They were accused of counterrevolutionary activities.
American English
- The regime brutally suppressed any counterrevolutionary movement.
- His views were labeled counterrevolutionary and dangerous.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- After the revolution, the new leaders arrested many counterrevolutionaries.
- Historical accounts often portray the White Army as counterrevolutionary forces during the Russian Civil War.
- The regime's paranoia led to the persecution of countless individuals on spurious charges of harbouring counterrevolutionary sympathies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
COUNTER + REVOLUTIONARY: Think of someone who 'counters' or opposes a 'revolution'.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL CHANGE IS A DIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT (a revolution moves 'forward'; a counterrevolution moves 'backward').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'контрреволюционер' – it's a direct cognate with identical meaning, but English usage is less common in daily speech.
- Avoid overusing; it's a specialist/historical term in English, not a general political insult.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'countervolutionary' (missing 're'), 'counter revolutionary' (unhyphenated split).
- Using as a synonym for any 'opponent' or 'critic'; it requires a revolutionary context.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'counterrevolutionary' most accurately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically used pejoratively by supporters of a revolution. However, from a non-revolutionary or historical perspective, it can be a neutral descriptor of a political position.
No, it is only a noun or adjective. The related verb would be 'to counter' a revolution or 'to engage in counterrevolution'.
'Reactionary' is broader, describing a desire to return to a previous political/social order, often in response to any progressive change. 'Counterrevolutionary' is specifically opposition to a *revolution* and is more active/organized.
Yes, it is an acceptable variant, though the closed form 'counterrevolutionary' is more common in modern usage.
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