kulak

What is another word for kulak? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.

Noun — A kulak was a farmer in Russia or the Soviet Union who had done well enough to own his own land and pay others to work it for him.

We haven't recorded synonyms for kulak yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use kulak

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

wealthy kulak kulak family accused of being a kulak the kulak class

The term is historical and belongs mainly to discussions of Russian and Soviet history.

Etymology

The word entered English in 1877 from Russian, where kulak literally means fist and was also used to describe a tight-fisted or grasping person. It came to label wealthier, land-owning peasants.

Full origin of kulak →

Frequently asked questions

What does kulak mean?

A kulak was a comparatively wealthy peasant in the Russian Empire or Soviet Union who owned land and could hire labourers.

Why were kulaks persecuted in the Soviet Union?

During Soviet collectivization in the 1920s and 1930s, the label kulak was used pejoratively against land-owning peasants in general, making them targets of state policy.

Does kulak literally mean something else in Russian?

Yes, in Russian kulak literally means fist, and was used figuratively for a tight-fisted or miserly person before it came to mean a wealthy peasant.

Nearby words

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