Bolshevists

/ˈbɒlʃəvɪsts/ noun

Definition

People who supported or believed in Bolshevism, the communist revolution led by Lenin in Russia in 1917.

Etymology

From Russian 'bolsheviki' meaning 'majority,' derived from 'bolshe' (more). The Bolsheviks called themselves this because they won a majority vote at a party conference in 1903.

Kelly Says

Despite the name meaning 'majority,' the Bolsheviks were actually a minority when they seized power in the Russian Revolution—they took control through military force and clever strategy, not democratic support, which is deliciously ironic.

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