refusenik

or re·fus·nik

[ ri-fyooz-nik ]
/ rɪˈfyuz nɪk /

noun Informal.

a Soviet citizen, usually Jewish, who was denied permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union.

Origin of refusenik

1970–75; refuse1 + -nik, perhaps translation of Russian otkáznik (unless the Russ word is itself a translation of refusenik)

Words nearby refusenik

Example sentences from the Web for refusenik

British Dictionary definitions for refusenik

refusenik

refusnik

/ (rɪˈfjuːznɪk) /

noun

(formerly) a Jew in the Soviet Union who had been refused permission to emigrate
a person who refuses to cooperate with a system or comply with a law because of a moral conviction

Word Origin for refusenik

C20: from refuse 1 + -nik