pro-communist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Political, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “pro-communist” mean?
Supporting or in favour of communism, its principles, or its political systems.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Supporting or in favour of communism, its principles, or its political systems.
Describing a person, group, policy, or sentiment that advocates for communist ideology, or materials (e.g., literature, propaganda) intended to promote communism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar in both varieties. The hyphenated form 'pro-communist' is standard. Slightly more common in American political discourse during the Cold War era.
Connotations
Often implies sympathy for or alignment with a foreign power or ideology (e.g., Soviet Union, Maoist China). Can be used accusatorily. In historical contexts, may be neutral.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language; spikes in historical/political texts. More common in 20th-century discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “pro-communist” in a Sentence
[be] pro-communist[accuse someone of being] pro-communist[label someone as] pro-communist[adopt a] pro-communist [position]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pro-communist” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The newspaper was accused of having a pro-communist bias during the miners' strikes.
- Several pro-communist MPs were monitored by security services in the 1950s.
American English
- The senator's pro-communist remarks sparked a controversy during the McCarthy era.
- They distributed pro-communist leaflets on campus.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in risk analysis regarding political instability in certain regions.
Academic
Common in political science, history, and sociology texts to describe political alignment.
Everyday
Very rare. Mostly in discussions of history or strong political debate.
Technical
Used in political commentary and intelligence analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pro-communist”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pro-communist”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pro-communist”
- Using 'procommunist' without a hyphen (hyphen is standard). Confusing it with 'post-communist' (which comes after communism).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A 'communist' actively subscribes to the ideology and is often a party member. A 'pro-communist' person or group supports communism but may not be formal adherents.
Its usage has declined since the end of the Cold War. It is now primarily used in historical contexts or in analysis of specific political movements (e.g., in Nepal or parts of Latin America).
Yes, in academic or historical writing it can be a neutral descriptor. In political debate, it often carries a negative connotation, especially from anti-communist speakers.
The direct opposite is 'anti-communist'. Other contextual opposites include 'pro-capitalist' or 'pro-Western'.
Supporting or in favour of communism, its principles, or its political systems.
Pro-communist is usually formal, political, academic, historical in register.
Pro-communist: in British English it is pronounced /ˌprəʊˈkɒm.jə.nɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌproʊˈkɑː.mjə.nɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A card-carrying member of the pro-communist left.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'PRO' as in 'in favour of' + 'COMMUNIST'. It's for someone who is *for* communist systems.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL ALIGNMENT IS DIRECTION (leaning towards communism). IDEOLOGY IS A FORCE (pro-communist forces).
Practice
Quiz
In a historical text, 'pro-communist guerrillas' most likely refers to: