bolshevik

Everyday

1. (history) A member of the group of Russian communists, led by Lenin, who took power in Russia in a revolution and later created the Soviet Union. tree →
2. (adjective) To do with the Bolsheviks: «the Bolshevik Revolution». tree →
3. (old slang, UK) «Bolshie» or «bolshy» means stubborn and rebellious, from this word. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons about the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks overthrew the government, killed the royal family and set up a one-party state; a civil war and much suffering followed, including in Ukraine. The name comes from Russian «bolshinstvo», majority. Written with a capital B.

Examples

• The Bolsheviks were led by Lenin. tree →
• The Bolshevik Revolution changed Russia forever. tree →
• The Bolsheviks took control of the government in Petrograd. tree →
• Many people suffered under Bolshevik rule. tree →
• Our history book has a poster from the Bolshevik era. tree →
• Stop being so bolshie and do your chores! tree →

Note

Capital B. Plural: Bolsheviks. Their rivals were the Mensheviks. «Bolshie» (UK, informal) is a separate word meaning difficult or stubborn.