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Definition of communism noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

communism

noun
 
/ˈkɒmjənɪzəm/
 
/ˈkɑːmjənɪzəm/
 [uncountable]
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  1. a theory or system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs In theory, a communist society has no government and the means of production are owned by the people. In practice, countries that are referred to as ‘communist’, such as the former USSR, usually have a powerful state that controls all aspects of society. compare capitalism
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    Topics Politicsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • international
    • Soviet
    verb + communism
    • embrace
    • defeat
    • fight
    • …
    preposition
    • under communism
    phrases
    • the collapse of communism
    • the fall of communism
    • the fight against communism
    • …
    See full entry
  2. often Communism
     the system of government by a ruling Communist Party, such as in the former USSR
    • a book describing life under Communism
    Topics Politicsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • international
    • Soviet
    verb + communism
    • embrace
    • defeat
    • fight
    • …
    preposition
    • under communism
    phrases
    • the collapse of communism
    • the fall of communism
    • the fight against communism
    • …
    See full entry
    3. Word Originmid 19th cent.: from French communisme, from commun, from Latin communis ‘common’.
See communism in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee communism in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: communism

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