Meanings
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1
noun
a person who supports cooperation and solidarity among nations rather than narrow national self-interest
She remained an internationalist who favored treaties and strong multilateral institutions.
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2
adj
supporting or influenced by internationalism
The party adopted an internationalist foreign policy centered on cross-border cooperation.
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3
noun
historically, a member or supporter of a socialist or communist International
The internationalist attended congresses that organized workers across national borders.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Formed in the nineteenth century from international + -ist, the suffix for an adherent or practitioner. International combines inter-, 'between,' with national and was introduced in its modern political sense by Jeremy Bentham. The adjective developed from the noun.