counterrevolutionary

Definition

A person or movement opposed to or working to reverse a revolution; specifically, one who resists revolutionary change and seeks to restore previous political systems or social orders. Often used pejoratively in revolutionary rhetoric.

Example Usage

The government labeled the protesters counterrevolutionaries for their calls to restore the monarchy.

Origin

From counter- (against) plus revolutionary, a concept that became prominent during and after major revolutions like the French and Russian revolutions.

Fun Fact

The term gained particular prominence during the Cold War, when communist nations regularly accused their opponents of being counterrevolutionaries.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

Related Terms

Advanced

Signing Statement

A formal comment issued by the executive when signing legislation, ranging from 'nice bill' to 'I'm not actually going to follow the parts I disagree with', which is technically unconstitutional but happens anyway.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Advanced

Dead hand mechanism

A retaliatory system configured to launch automatically if a nation is destroyed, ensuring mutually assured destruction.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Intermediate

institutionalized

When something becomes so deeply embedded in an organization's DNA that it's now 'just how we do things,' whether that's a procedure, policy, or problem. Fighting institutionalized practices is like trying to teach an old bureaucracy new tricks—possible, but painfully slow.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Beginner

Policy Wonk

A person obsessed with policy details, numbers, and substantive governance—the only type of person actually interested in reading the omnibus bill.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Advanced

red

A political label for anyone who supports communism, socialism, or revolution—dating back to Bolsheviks waving red flags. During the Cold War, calling someone 'red' was an accusation more serious than modern internet insults.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Intermediate

Polling Error

The margin between what polls predicted and what actually happened—usually blamed on pollsters rather than on the people who commissioned the polls or acted on them.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Translate This Term

See “counterrevolutionary” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Beginner

imhe

in my humble experience...