antireformist
|an-ti-re-form-ist|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.ti.rɪˈfɔr.mɪst/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.ti.rɪˈfɔː.mɪst/
against reform
Etymology
'antireformist' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'reformist' (from 'reform' + suffix '-ist'), where 'reform' ultimately derives from Latin 'reformare' meaning 'to form again'.
'antireformist' is a compound formed in modern usage from 'anti-' + 'reformist'; 'reform' came into English via Old French 'reformer' from Latin 'reformare', and the agent suffix '-ist' (from French/Latin) produced 'reformist', to which the prefix 'anti-' was attached to indicate opposition.
Initially it simply combined 'anti-' and 'reformist' to mean 'against reformists or reforms'; over time it has retained that core sense and is used to describe people, groups, or attitudes opposing change or reform.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who opposes reforms or changes, especially political or institutional reforms.
An antireformist in the legislature argued that the proposed law would do more harm than good.
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Adjective 1
opposed to reform; resisting change or efforts to reform a system or institution.
The party adopted an antireformist stance during the debate.
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Last updated: 2025/09/08 23:08