soviet
SOH-vee-uht
Soviet (noun) means an elected council that formed the basic unit of government in the former Soviet Union. Example: “Workers elected representatives to the local soviet.”
noun
1
An elected council that formed the basic unit of government in the former Soviet Union.
"Workers elected representatives to the local soviet."
"The soviet in the factory town met weekly to discuss local matters."
"Historians study how each soviet chose delegates to send to higher councils."
adjective
1
Relating to the Soviet Union or its government.
"Later, in the 1980s, western scholars found that, notwithstanding the substantial Soviet military buildup near the Chinese borders in the late 1960s, it was Beijing that initiated the clash on Zhenbao (Damanski) Island."
— Vitaly Kozyrev, Soviet Policy Toward the United States and China, 1969-1979 (2005)
"A monument to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin erected in Moscow's metro is stirring debate, with some Russians welcoming it as a historical tribute, but others saying it's a mistake to commemorate someone who presided over so much suffering."
— , Monument to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in Moscow metro stirs debate (2025)
"The museum has an exhibit on Soviet space exploration."
"My grandfather kept a Soviet coin from his travels."
"The film is set in a Soviet city during a harsh winter."
How to use soviet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to the former USSR, or one of its governing councils.
Common pairings
Soviet Union
Soviet era
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Word forms
- Plural
- soviets
- Comparative
- more Soviet
- Superlative
- most Soviet
Fill the gap
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Workers elected representatives to the local _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian sovet ("council"), from Old Church Slavonic sŭvětŭ ("advice, agreement").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for soviet
See all rhymes for 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.
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