soviet
3 synonyms and 0 antonyms for soviet, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An elected council that formed the basic unit of government in the former Soviet Union.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use soviet
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian sovet ("council"), from Old Church Slavonic sŭvětŭ ("advice, agreement").
Full origin of soviet →Frequently asked questions
What does “soviet” mean?
The word “soviet” means an elected council that formed the basic unit of government in the former Soviet Union. In plain terms, relating to the former USSR, or one of its governing councils.
How do you pronounce “soviet”?
“Soviet” is pronounced SOH-vee-uht (/ˈsoʊvi.ət/ in IPA).
How do you use “soviet” in a sentence?
Here is “soviet” used in a sentence: “Workers elected representatives to the local soviet.”
What part of speech is “soviet”?
Depending on how it is used, “soviet” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “soviet” come from?
The word “soviet” comes from Russian. Borrowed from Russian sovet ("council"), from Old Church Slavonic sŭvětŭ ("advice, agreement").
Is “soviet” a common word?
“Soviet” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “soviet” have?
“Soviet” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an elected council that formed the basic unit of government in the former Soviet Union.
What is the difference between a soviet and the Soviet Union?
A soviet (lowercase) was a single elected council of workers, soldiers or peasants acting as a local unit of government. The Soviet Union was the whole country — officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics — which took its name from these councils. One was a building block; the other, the entire state.
What does the word 'soviet' actually mean?
It comes from the Russian word for 'council' or 'advice.' Originally a soviet was simply a council elected to represent local workers or communities. The term later became attached to the communist government that grew out of these councils, which is why it now sounds inseparable from Russian and Soviet-era politics.
What is an example of a soviet?
The most famous is the Petrograd Soviet, formed in 1917, which represented workers and soldiers during the Russian Revolution. Local, city and regional soviets existed throughout the country, each meant to send delegates upward through the system. In practice they became instruments of the ruling Communist Party.