red brigades: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Journalistic, Academic
Quick answer
What does “red brigades” mean?
A far-left Marxist-Leninist terrorist group that was active in Italy from the 1970s through the 1980s.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A far-left Marxist-Leninist terrorist group that was active in Italy from the 1970s through the 1980s.
The name is often used as a historical reference to Italian political violence and extremism in the late 20th century, and by extension, to describe similar militant left-wing organizations or violent revolutionary movements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definition differences. The term is used identically to refer to the same historical group. UK media may have had more proximate coverage during their active period.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes political terrorism, the period of 'Years of Lead' in Italy, left-wing extremism, and the kidnapping/murder of Aldo Moro. It is a heavily loaded historical term.
Frequency
Frequency is similarly low in both varieties, appearing primarily in history textbooks, political analyses, and retrospective journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “red brigades” in a Sentence
The Red Brigades + past tense verb (were, conducted, kidnapped)A member/attack/kidnapping by the Red BrigadesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “red brigades” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Red Brigades era was a dark chapter.
- A Red Brigades-style manifesto was found.
American English
- The Red Brigades period is studied by historians.
- He was a Red Brigades sympathiser in his youth.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Might appear in risk analysis for historical context in Italy.
Academic
Common in political science, modern history, and terrorism studies texts discussing post-war European extremism.
Everyday
Rare. Used only in discussions about 20th-century history, terrorism, or Italian politics.
Technical
Used as a specific case study in criminology, counter-terrorism, and political violence literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “red brigades”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “red brigades”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “red brigades”
- Using singular 'Red Brigade'. *'The Red Brigade was active' is incorrect. The standard form is plural: 'The Red Brigades were active'.
- Using lower case: 'red brigades'.
- Confusing them with the German Red Army Faction (RAF) or other contemporaneous groups.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they were a far-left Marxist-Leninist militant organization that sought to overthrow the Italian state and install a revolutionary communist regime.
Their peak activity was during the 1970s and early 1980s, a period in Italy often referred to as the 'Years of Lead' (Anni di piombo).
Their most notorious act was the kidnapping and murder of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978.
The original organization was largely dismantled by Italian authorities in the 1980s. Very small, fragmented factions claiming the name have emerged occasionally, but they lack the scale and impact of the historical group.
A far-left Marxist-Leninist terrorist group that was active in Italy from the 1970s through the 1980s.
Red brigades is usually formal, historical, journalistic, academic in register.
Red brigades: in British English it is pronounced /ˌred brɪˈɡeɪdz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɛd brɪˈɡeɪdz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Red' for their communist ideology and 'Brigades' as militant units. They were the 'red' (communist) militant 'brigades' causing turmoil in Italy.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE EXTREME LEFT IS A MILITARY FORCE; POLITICAL IDEOLOGY IS A COLOUR (RED).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary ideological orientation of the Red Brigades?