antireactionary
|an-ti-re-ac-tion-ar-y|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tɪ.rɪˈæk.ʃən.əri/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tɪ.rɪˈæk.ʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/
against reactionary
Etymology
'antireactionary' originates from the combining of the prefix 'anti-' and the adjective 'reactionary'. 'Anti-' ultimately comes from Greek 'antí' meaning 'against', while 'reactionary' comes from French 'réactionnaire' (from 'réaction').
'reactionary' entered English via French 'réactionnaire', itself from 'réaction' (reaction), which derives from Latin 'reactio' (a doing back). The compound 'anti-' + 'reactionary' formed in modern English to indicate opposition to reactionary ideas, producing 'antireactionary' (written either as one word or hyphenated in some sources).
Initially the elements meant 'against' + 'reactionary (pro-reaction)'; over time the compound came to be used as an adjective or noun specifically describing opposition to reactionary politics or figures.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who is antireactionary; someone who opposes reactionary politics or policies.
As an antireactionary, she campaigned against laws that rolled back civil rights.
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Adjective 1
opposing reactionaries or reactionary politics; opposed to conservative, backward-looking political forces that seek to reverse social or political change.
The party adopted an antireactionary platform that supported progressive reforms.
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Last updated: 2025/09/08 18:28