Leftist
/ˈlɛf.tɪst/noun
A person who holds left-wing political views.
Did you know?The political sense of “left” emerged during the French Revolution, when opponents of the monarchy sat on the left side of the National Assembly while royalists sat on the right.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
Old English
lyft
“Weak, foolish, or awkward; later associated with the left side, traditionally viewed in Germanic culture as the less skillful hand.”
Middle English
Middle English
left
“The side opposite the right; the modern directional sense became established.”
1790s
French/English
la gauche / the Left
“During the French Revolution, political opponents of the monarchy sat on the assembly’s left side, creating the political meaning.”
19th Century
English
left-wing
“A political position associated with reform, equality, or opposition to established authority.”
Early 20th Century
English
leftist
“A person supporting left-wing political ideas; the suffix “-ist” derives through French from Greek -istēs, meaning a person who practices or supports something.”