marxist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1/C2
UK/ˈmɑːksɪst/US/ˈmɑːrksɪst/

Formal, Academic, Political

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Quick answer

What does “marxist” mean?

A follower of the political, economic, and social theories of Karl Marx, emphasising class struggle, the critique of capitalism, and the advocacy for a communist society.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A follower of the political, economic, and social theories of Karl Marx, emphasising class struggle, the critique of capitalism, and the advocacy for a communist society.

An adherent of the ideology based on the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, analyzing society through a materialist conception of history and often advocating for revolutionary change; also used as an adjective to describe ideas, analyses, or systems aligned with this ideology.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in definition. In the US, the term is more politically charged and often used pejoratively in mainstream discourse. In the UK, it may appear in more academic or historical contexts with slightly less inherent stigma.

Connotations

In both: Can be neutral (academic), positive (among adherents), or strongly negative (as a critique). In American public discourse, it frequently carries a strong negative connotation, associated with authoritarian regimes.

Frequency

Higher frequency in academic (politics, sociology, history) and political commentary contexts in both regions. More likely to be used as a political label or accusation in US media.

Grammar

How to Use “marxist” in a Sentence

[be] a Marxist[describe/analyse] from a Marxist perspective[adhere/subscribe] to Marxist principles[critique/interpret] through a Marxist lens

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Marxist theoryMarxist analysisMarxist ideologyMarxist philosopherclassical Marxist
medium
Marxist perspectiveMarxist critiqueinfluenced by Marxist thoughtMarxist frameworkavowed Marxist
weak
Marxist ideasMarxist approachMarxist groupMarxist literatureMarxist government

Examples

Examples of “marxist” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • [No standard verb form. Rarely used as 'to Marxist' meaning to analyse from a Marxist perspective, e.g., 'He attempted to Marxist the Victorian novel.']

American English

  • [No standard verb form.]

adverb

British English

  • [No standard adverb form. 'Marxistically' is extremely rare and non-standard.]

American English

  • [No standard adverb form.]

adjective

British English

  • Her thesis provides a Marxist reading of post-colonial literature.
  • The party was founded on Marxist principles.

American English

  • The professor is known for his Marxist analysis of the media.
  • They rejected the proposal as being too Marxist.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare, except in critical phrases like 'Marxist policies would destroy business'.

Academic

Common in political science, sociology, history, and literary theory to denote a specific analytical framework.

Everyday

Rare in casual conversation. Used in political discussions, often with strong positive or negative charge.

Technical

Specific in political philosophy and economic theory to distinguish from other socialist or communist traditions.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “marxist”

Strong

communist (in theoretical sense)Marxian (academic)Bolshevik (historical, specific)

Neutral

socialisthistorical materialistleftist theorist

Weak

radicalcritic of capitalismprogressive (in certain contexts)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “marxist”

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “marxist”

  • Pronouncing it as /mɑːrkˈsɪst/ (incorrect stress).
  • Using 'Marxian' and 'Marxist' interchangeably ('Marxian' is more strictly academic/philosophical).
  • Capitalisation error: lowercase 'm' when used as an adjective (a Marxist analysis) is standard.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Not exactly. 'Marxist' refers specifically to the theories of Karl Marx. 'Communist' is broader, referring to the ideology seeking a classless society and can encompass many traditions, including Marxism-Leninism, Maoism, etc. A Marxist is usually a type of communist, but not all communists are strictly Marxist.

When referring directly to the ideology or followers of Karl Marx, it is typically capitalised as it is derived from a proper name (Marx). However, when used as a general adjective (e.g., 'marxist tendencies'), lowercase is increasingly common, though both forms are seen. For consistency in formal writing, capitalising is recommended.

'Marxist' often implies active political adherence or belief in the ideology. 'Marxian' is a more academic, descriptive term used to denote the analytical and theoretical aspects of Marx's work without necessarily implying political allegiance (e.g., 'Marxian economics').

No, 'Marxist' is not a standard verb in English. One might 'apply Marxist analysis' or 'use a Marxist framework', but the verb 'to Marxist' is non-standard and very rare.

A follower of the political, economic, and social theories of Karl Marx, emphasising class struggle, the critique of capitalism, and the advocacy for a communist society.

Marxist is usually formal, academic, political in register.

Marxist: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːksɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑːrksɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • [Not commonly idiomatic. More a doctrinal label.]

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: MARX-ist = follower of KARL MARX. The 'X' can remind you of the 'cross'-hairs of revolution or the 'ex'-amination of class.

Conceptual Metaphor

IDEAS ARE BUILDINGS ('the framework of Marxist theory'), ANALYSIS IS SEEING ('viewed through a Marxist lens'), SOCIETY IS A STRUGGLE ('the Marxist view of class war').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The literary critic applied a lens to the novel, highlighting its portrayal of industrial exploitation.
Multiple Choice

In which context is the term 'Marxist' MOST likely to be used neutrally?