What does communistic mean?
"Communistic" is an adjective describing anything relating to or characteristic of communism — the political and economic doctrine advocating collective ownership of property and the means of production. While broadly interchangeable with "communist", it tends to appear in slightly more formal, theoretical, or historical contexts: writers may speak of "communistic principles" or a "communistic society" when discussing ideology in the abstract. The word has an interesting history, having been applied to 19th-century utopian experiments — such as shared-property settlements in America — well before the rise of Marxist states gave it its modern political charge. Today its connotation depends heavily on the speaker and setting; in some circles it functions as neutral description, while in others, especially American political rhetoric, it serves as a term of criticism. It derives from French and Latin roots meaning "common" or "shared", connecting it etymologically to words like commune and communal.
adjectiveRelating to or characteristic of communism, the political and economic system in which property is owned collectively. Often carries a slightly more formal or theoretical tone than 'communist'.
- Relating to or characteristic of the political theory or practice of communism.
- (Historical) Relating to communities that hold property in common.
"The party's early manifestos laid out a thoroughly communistic vision of shared land and collective labour."
"Critics accused the government's new land reforms of being quietly communistic in intent."
"In the 1840s, several experimental settlements in America were founded on openly communistic principles."
Despite sounding like pure Soviet-era vocabulary, 'communistic' predates the Russian Revolution by decades and was used to describe 19th-century utopian communities long before Marx became a household name.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of communistic
"Communistic" derives from "communism", which entered English via French "communisme", ultimately rooted in Latin "communis", meaning "common" or "shared". It shares this root with related terms such as "commune", "communal", and "communitarian". The adjective was in use by the mid-19th century, applied both to revolutionary socialist thought and to utopian communities practising common ownership.
Related word forms
How communistic is actually used
Slightly more formal and less frequent than 'communist' as an adjective; often used in academic or historical writing about 19th-century utopian socialism as well as 20th-century Marxist states. Can carry strongly negative connotations depending on context, particularly in American political discourse.
Easily confused with communistic
'Communal' simply means shared by a community (e.g. a communal garden), while 'communistic' specifically refers to the communist political ideology.