supreme soviet: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowHistorical, Political, Academic
Quick answer
What does “supreme soviet” mean?
The highest legislative body in the former Soviet Union and some other socialist states.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The highest legislative body in the former Soviet Union and some other socialist states.
A term historically used for the national parliament in Soviet-style political systems, consisting of two chambers (Soviet of the Union and Soviet of Nationalities). It can also refer metaphorically to any ultimate authority or governing council in certain contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between UK and US English. Both use it primarily in historical/academic contexts.
Connotations
Connotes Cold War-era politics, Soviet history, and communist governance structures.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, appearing mainly in history texts, political science, and journalism about the former USSR.
Grammar
How to Use “supreme soviet” in a Sentence
The Supreme Soviet [verb: convened, voted, dissolved][Adjective: former, dissolved, bicameral] Supreme SovietVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “supreme soviet” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Not commonly used as an adjective]
American English
- [Not commonly used as an adjective]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in business contexts.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and Soviet studies to describe the legislative structure of the USSR.
Everyday
Extremely rare in everyday conversation unless discussing 20th-century history.
Technical
Used as a technical term in political science and historical analysis of communist systems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “supreme soviet”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “supreme soviet”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “supreme soviet”
- Writing it in lowercase ('supreme soviet').
- Using it to refer to current Russian politics.
- Confusing it with the Politburo (executive) or the Communist Party Congress.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR ceased to exist with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Some post-Soviet states initially kept the name for their new parliaments but have since changed them.
The Supreme Soviet was the formal, constitutional legislature. The Politburo was the main executive and policy-making committee of the Communist Party, which held the real political power.
Yes, as it is the official name of a specific historical institution, it is treated as a proper noun and should be capitalised.
Rarely, but it can be used humorously or critically to refer to a group perceived as having ultimate, perhaps unaccountable, authority in a particular domain (e.g., 'the editorial supreme soviet'). This usage is stylised and not common.
The highest legislative body in the former Soviet Union and some other socialist states.
Supreme soviet is usually historical, political, academic in register.
Supreme soviet: in British English it is pronounced /suːˌpriːm ˈsəʊ.vi.et/, and in American English it is pronounced /suːˌpriːm ˈsoʊ.vi.et/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this proper noun]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SUPreme' = highest, 'SOVIET' = council. The highest council of the Soviet state.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SUPREME SOVIET IS A PEAK (the highest point of political authority in the system).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary function of the Supreme Soviet?