soviet

[ soh-vee-et, -it, soh-vee-et ]
/ ˈsoʊ viˌɛt, -ɪt, ˌsoʊ viˈɛt /

noun

(in the Soviet Union).
  1. (before the revolution) any governmental council.
  2. (after the revolution) a local council, originally elected only by manual workers, with certain powers of local administration.
  3. (after the revolution) a higher council elected by a local council, being part of a hierarchy of soviets culminating in the Supreme Soviet.
any similar council or assembly connected with a socialistic governmental system elsewhere.
(initial capital letter) Often Soviets. a governing official or person living in the Soviet Union: The Soviets have denied our charge.

adjective

of or relating to a soviet.
(initial capital letter) of the Soviet Union: a Soviet statesman.

Origin of soviet

1915–20; < Russian sovét council, counsel, advice, Old Russian, OCS sŭvětŭ, equivalent to sŭ- together, with + větŭ counsel; calque of Greek symboúlion

OTHER WORDS FROM soviet

so·vi·et·dom [soh-vee-et-duh m, -it-, soh-vee-et-] /ˈsoʊ viˌɛt dəm, -ɪt-, ˌsoʊ viˈɛt-/, noun an·ti-So·vi·et, noun, adjective pro-So·vi·et, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for pro-soviet (1 of 3)

pro-Soviet

adjective

in favour of or supporting anything of, characteristic of, or relating to the former Soviet Union, its people, or its government

British Dictionary definitions for pro-soviet (2 of 3)

soviet
/ (ˈsəʊvɪət, ˈsɒv-) /

noun

(in the former Soviet Union) an elected government council at the local, regional, and national levels, which culminated in the Supreme Soviet
(in prerevolutionary Russia) a local revolutionary council

adjective

of or relating to a soviet

Word Origin for soviet

C20: from Russian sovyet council, from Old Russian sŭvĕtŭ

British Dictionary definitions for pro-soviet (3 of 3)

Soviet
/ (ˈsəʊvɪət, ˈsɒv-) /

adjective

of, characteristic of, or relating to the former Soviet Union, its people, or its government