anarchist

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a person who advocates anarchism, seeking a society organized without a coercive state or imposed hierarchy

   The anarchist argued that voluntary associations could replace centralized government.

2. 2
   noun

   a person who rejects established authority or convention, especially in a deliberately rebellious way

   The artist described herself as an anarchist who refused every institutional rule.

Through French anarchiste from anarchie, 'anarchy,' plus the agent suffix -iste. The deeper source is Greek anarkhos, 'without a ruler,' formed from an-, 'without,' and arkhos, 'ruler.' The political sense refers to opposition to coercive hierarchy, not simply a preference for disorder.

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