noun

kulak

KOO-lak

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Kulak (noun) means 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. Example: “The novel follows a kulak family stripped of their land during collectivization.”

noun

historical 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.

"The novel follows a kulak family stripped of their land during collectivization."

"Historians still debate how many people were actually kulaks by wealth alone."

"Soviet propaganda painted every kulak as an enemy of the state."

How to use kulak

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA kulak was a better-off peasant landowner, especially one singled out and persecuted under Soviet rule.

When to use it

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

Memory tip

Remember that under Stalin the label was applied so broadly that it stopped reliably describing actual wealth.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

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

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “kulak” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The novel follows a _____ family stripped of their land during collectivization.

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.

Origin: Russian

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.

What is the meaning of kulak?

"kulak" (noun) means 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.