I. -shələ̇st, in rapid speech -shl- noun
( -s )
Etymology: social ism + -ist
1. : one who advocates or practices socialism
2. usually capitalized : a member of a socialist party or political group
Synonyms: see collectivist
II. adjective
1.
a. : of or relating to socialism
socialist theory
socialist ideas
: adhering to or favoring socialism
a socialist state
a socialist thinker
b. : advocating, furthering, or constituting political, economic, or social measures or actions tending toward or regarded as tending toward socialism
2. usually capitalized : of, belonging to, or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the doctrines of socialism
the major socialist parties prior to 1914 were all professedly Marxian — G.E.Hoover
specifically : of or constituting a minor political party in the United States formed by fusion after 1899 of the Social Democratic party and seceders from the Socialist Labor party and having its greatest influence and activity in the early 20th century — compare labor 2b