anarchists

Noun

anarchist (plural anarchists)

1. One who believes in or advocates the absence of hierarchy and authority in most forms (compare anarchism), especially one who works toward the realization of such.
   • Eh bien ! vous êtes démocrate ? — Non. — Quoi ! vous seriez monarchique ? — Non. — Constitutionnel ? — Dieu m’en garde. — Vous êtes donc aristocrate ? — Point du tout. — Vous voulez un gouvernement mixte ? — Encore moins. — Qu’êtes-vous donc ? — Je suis anarchiste.1849 [1840], Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, “Caractères de la communauté et de la propriété”, in Qu’est-ce que la propriété?, page 237; English translation from “Characteristics of Communism and of...
2. One who disregards laws and social norms as a form of rebellion against authority.
3. (broadly) One who promotes chaos and lawlessness.
   • You have heard that Anarchists throw bombs, that they believe in violence, and that Anarchy means disorder and chaos.1929, Alexander Berkman, “Is Anarchism Violence?”, in Now and After: The ABC of Communist Anarchism, New York: Vanguard Press, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   nihilist

4. One who resents outside control or influence on their life, in particular a government, and therefore desires the absence of political control.

See all 5 meanings of anarchist