communism

[kom-yuh-niz-uhm]

noun

1. a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.

2. (often initial capital letter),  a system of social organization in which all economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by a single and self-perpetuating political party.

3. (initial capital letter),  the principles and practices of the Communist Party.

4. communalism.

communism

/ ˈkɒmjʊˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. advocacy of a classless society in which private ownership has been abolished and the means of production and subsistence belong to the community

2. any social, economic, or political movement or doctrine aimed at achieving such a society

3. (usually capital) a political movement based upon the writings of Marx that considers history in terms of class conflict and revolutionary struggle, resulting eventually in the victory of the proletariat and the establishment of a socialist order based on public ownership of the means of production See also Marxism Marxism-Leninism socialism

4. (usually capital) a social order or system of government established by a ruling Communist Party, esp in the former Soviet Union

5. (often capital) any leftist political activity or thought, esp when considered to be subversive

6. communal living; communalism

communism

1. An economic and social system envisioned by the nineteenth-century German scholar Karl Marx (see also Marx). In theory, under communism, all means of production are owned in common, rather than by individuals (see Marxism and Marxism-Leninism). In practice, a single authoritarian party controls both the political and economic systems. In the twentieth century, communism was associated with the economic and political systems of China and the Soviet Union and of the satellites of the Soviet Union. (Compare capitalism and socialism.)

Other Word Forms

• anticommunism noun
• procommunism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of communism¹

From the French word communisme, dating back to 1835–45. See common, -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of communism¹

C19: from French communisme, from commun _common

Example Sentences

Truman maintained publicly that keeping rates low was crucial for the fight against communism.

From Los Angeles Times

Under Soviet communism and under Putin, diplomacy is a zero-sum game whose only goal is to restore Russian hegemony over Eastern Europe.

From Los Angeles Times

"After the Cultural Revolution, Chinese people for the large part were disillusioned by communism," she told the BBC.

From BBC

He delivered a screed on the history of the Middle East, telling his attorney, “Zionism is more inimical to me than communism is to you.”

From Los Angeles Times

A career politician who shaped the country's transition from communism to democracy, he was both a beacon of hope and a deeply divisive presence in Romanian politics.

From BBC

Related Words

• socialism 

When To Use

What is communism?

Communism is an ideology or system based on the idea that the property of a community should be owned collectively and shared among everyone. In such a system, there are ideally no classes and everyone has equal power.The word Communism is sometimes capitalized. When it is, it often refers to a political ideology.The noun communist refers to someone who supports communism. It can also be used as an adjective to describe things involving communism or that operate under communism, such as countries or economies. It is also sometimes capitalized.In a purely communist system, no one owns property individually. For example, people may work at a factory, but ownership of the factory or the machinery inside is collective and equal. The things made at the factory are shared by everyone or given to the people most in need of them. Under this form of communism, no one becomes richer than anyone else and so there are no economic classes of wealthy and poor.In contrast, under a system of capitalism, the majority of property is privately purchased (with money) and owned, and the law protects the possession of it. In capitalism, a wealthy class often owns the businesses and a less wealthy class works for the business owners.Political systems regarded as examples of Communism generally carry out (or aim to carry out) the economic theory of communism in a specific way. The transition to such a system is often thought to involve the elimination of capitalist society and the introduction of a one-party state that is supposed to ensure that everyone has equal wealth and equal access to any of the things that they need.However, there are many varying interpretations as to what communism truly entails, and many common misconceptions related to it.Communism is often compared to or confused with socialism. Communism is based on socialism and is often seen as an extreme or the ultimate form of it. Socialism is also based on community ownership of the means of production, often in the form of a centralized government. However, individuals can own the products created by the community. Communism, on the other hand, is generally based on the elimination of private property. Politically, Communism does not allow for a democratic form of government.Communism is associated with (and often developed from) the theoretical system of Marxism, in which socialism is considered a middle stage in the transition from capitalism to communism.