noun
Islamist
IHS-luh-mihst
noun
1
Someone who supports applying Islamic religious principles to law and government, often in a strict or political way.
"The election saw several Islamist parties gain seats in parliament."
adj
1
Relating to political movements that seek to base government and society on Islamic law.
"An Islamist group claimed responsibility for organising the protest."
How to Use Islamist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA political term for someone or something pushing Islamic religious law into government and public life — distinct from "Muslim," which just means a follower of the faith.
Common mistake
Don't use "Islamist" and "Muslim" interchangeably — Islamist refers to a political stance, not simply religious belief.
Word Forms
more Islamist comparative, Islamists plural, most Islamist superlative
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Etymology
From Islam plus the suffix -ist, used since the late 20th century for political movements built around Islamic law.