What does bolshevize mean?
Bolshevize is a chiefly North American verb meaning to make an institution, economy, or country conform to Bolshevik or communist principles. It is a strongly ideological term and commonly carries a critical or pejorative tone, especially when used by critics of centralized state control, compulsory collectivization, or rigid ideological uniformity. In literal historical usage, the verb can describe the imposition of Bolshevik political and economic structures. It is also used more figuratively, though still critically, when a speaker characterizes a policy or organization as imposing socialist ideas or authoritarian control. Because the word’s meaning depends partly on the critic’s political perspective, it is more common in argumentative political writing and commentary than in neutral academic prose. The British spelling bolshevise is also used. The word is especially notable because it converts the name of a specific revolutionary faction into a process: not merely a change of policy, but an attempt to make something Bolshevik.
verb (transitive)To make an institution, economy, or country conform to Bolshevik or communist principles; by extension, to impose such principles on it.
- To make a person, institution, economy, or country conform to Bolshevik or communist principles, especially by imposing centralized socialist policies.
"The minister promised to bolshevize the economy, replacing private ownership with state-run enterprises."
"The minister promised to bolshevize the economy, replacing private ownership with state-run enterprises."
"Opposition writers argued that the planning board had begun to bolshevize the entire organization."
Bolshevize turns Bolshevik—Russian for “majority”—into a verb for making a place radically socialist.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does bolshevize come from?
Bolshevize was formed in English from Bolshevik and the productive suffix -ize. Bolshevik came through English from Russian bolshevik, originally a term for a member of the majority faction and subsequently the name of the revolutionary movement that governed Russia after 1917. Related English forms include Bolshevism and Bolshevist, while the suffix -ize derives ultimately from Greek -izein, “to make like.”
Related word forms
How bolshevize is actually used
This is a strongly ideological and usually pejorative term. It may be used literally for imposing Bolshevik-style policies, but critics also use it more broadly for centralized, doctrinaire, or compulsory socialist policies. It occurs more often in political argument and commentary than in neutral academic prose.
Easily confused with bolshevize
Bolshevise is the chiefly British spelling of the same verb and does not have a different meaning.
Bolshevism is the ideology or political movement, whereas to bolshevize is to make something conform to Bolshevik or communist principles.