levellers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Academic / Historical
Quick answer
What does “levellers” mean?
People or things that make something level or equal, or individuals who advocate for the removal of social or political inequalities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
People or things that make something level or equal, or individuals who advocate for the removal of social or political inequalities.
Primarily refers to: 1) Historical group: The 17th-century English political movement (the Levellers) who advocated for popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, and equality before the law. 2) General noun: Tools, devices, or agents (e.g., chemicals) that smooth or flatten surfaces or reduce differences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight spelling preference: UK may retain 'levellers', US 'levelers'. The historical reference is equally known in both, but more prominent in UK history education. The tool/agent sense is neutral.
Connotations
In political/social discourse, can carry a positive connotation (champions of equality) or a negative one (destroyers of deserved hierarchy). In technical contexts, it is neutral.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday language. Most common in historical texts and specific technical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “levellers” in a Sentence
[the/these] Levellers + [past tense verb] (e.g., advocated, demanded)[noun] + levellers (e.g., pavement levellers)levellers + [preposition] + [object] (e.g., levellers of inequality)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “levellers” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The contractors are levelling the ground before laying the turf.
American English
- The new policy is leveling the competitive playing field.
adjective
British English
- A levelling screed is applied to the floor.
American English
- She took a leveling approach to the team's salary structure.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'New regulations are great levellers in the industry.'
Academic
Common in history/political science papers discussing 17th-century England.
Everyday
Very rare except in the fixed idiom 'great leveller'.
Technical
Common in construction/agriculture manuals referring to tools for creating flat surfaces.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “levellers”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “levellers”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “levellers”
- Using 'levellers' to mean 'levels' (e.g., 'different levellers of management'). Incorrect pluralization: 'leveller' -> 'levellers' (not 'levelleres'). Forgetting to capitalize the historical proper noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring specifically to the 17th-century English political movement. When referring to tools or general agents of equalization, it is not capitalized.
They are often synonymous in metaphorical use. 'Leveler' more strongly implies removing high points to match low ones, while 'equalizer' can imply raising the low to meet the high. 'Equalizer' is more common in AmE.
The singular form is 'leveller' (UK) / 'leveler' (US). 'Levellers' is the plural. You would say 'He was a leveller' or 'These are levellers'.
No, it is quite rare. The most common encounter for most learners will be in the idiom 'a great leveller' (e.g., 'Poverty is a great leveller') or in historical contexts.
People or things that make something level or equal, or individuals who advocate for the removal of social or political inequalities.
Levellers is usually formal / academic / historical in register.
Levellers: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɛv(ə)ləz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɛv(ə)lərz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Death is the great leveller.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the LEVellers trying to LEVel the playing field of society.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY/DIFFERENCES ARE PHYSICAL ELEVATIONS (to be levelled).
Practice
Quiz
In a modern technical manual, 'levellers' most likely refers to: