Dictionary

ultraleft en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˌʌl.tɹəˈlɛft/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Ultimately a calque of Russian ультралевый (ulʹtralevyj, “ultraleft”, adjective), in the sense of "pertaining to extreme or uncompromising leftist ideology." From ультра- (ulʹtra-, “ultra; extremely”) + левый (levyj, “left”, adjective), equivalent to ultra- + left. Originally applied pejoratively by the Bolsheviks against libertarian socialists and early left communists, and later by Stalinists against Trotskyists; now also used neutrally to refer to certain ideologies associated with left communism or traditional Marxism. The modern meanings are partially semantically loaned from French ultra-gauche.

Meanings

1. Of or pertaining to ultraleftism.
   • This rejection of anything connected with bourgeois democracy would later become associated mainly with ultraleft radicalism, but its beginnings were another matter. 2011, Hal Draper, chapter 13, in Karl Marx's Theory of Revolution, volume 1, section 1, page 284:
2. (derogatory, qualifier:far-left) Of a leftist movement or ideology: extreme and uncompromising; sectarian.
3. (qualifier:generally) Extremely left-wing.

Forms

wikipedia: Bolsheviks

ultraleft en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌʌl.tɹəˈlɛft/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Ultimately a calque of Russian ультралевый (ulʹtralevyj, “ultraleft”, adjective), in the sense of "pertaining to extreme or uncompromising leftist ideology." From ультра- (ulʹtra-, “ultra; extremely”) + левый (levyj, “left”, adjective), equivalent to ultra- + left. Originally applied pejoratively by the Bolsheviks against libertarian socialists and early left communists, and later by Stalinists against Trotskyists; now also used neutrally to refer to certain ideologies associated with left communism or traditional Marxism. The modern meanings are partially semantically loaned from French ultra-gauche.

Meanings

1. (collective, uncountable, usually) The strain or strains of leftism often associated with left communism, which practice rejection of both social democracy and state socialism as well as opposition to Leninism; i.e, ultraleftism.
2. (qualifier:strictly, uncountable, usually) The left communist tendency characterized by a synthesis of Dutch-German council communism and Italian left communism.
3. (broadly, uncountable, usually) Italian left communism; Bordigism.
4. (derogatory, qualifier:far-left, uncountable, usually) Leftism collectively considered uncompromising and sectarian, especially anti-Leninist Marxism.
5. (countable, rare, usually) An adherent of ultraleftism.
6. (qualifier:generally, uncountable, usually) The most extreme ideologies of the political left.

Forms

Deriveds

ultraleftist · ultraleftism

Relateds

left communism

wikipedia: Bolsheviks