ˈmenchə̇ˌvik, -ˌvēk noun
( plural mensheviks -ks ; also men·she·viki -ˌvikē, -ˌvēkē)
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Russian men'shevik, from men'she less, smaller (comp. of malo little, few) + -vik (nominal suffix); from their forming the minority group of the Russian Social Democratic party in 1903; akin to Russian malyĭ small, Latin malus bad — more at small
: a member of the wing of the Russian Social Democratic party before and during the Russian Revolution that believed in gradualism and relied on reformist methods and an alliance with the liberal bourgeoisie to achieve socialism and that after the establishment of the Soviet government assumed an attitude of vigorous opposition to the Communist regime — compare bolshevik