communiste

Communiste is a French noun and adjective meaning "communist." As an adjective, it designates beliefs, movements, or states pursuing communism, and as a noun it refers to a person who adheres to communism or who is a member of a Communist Party. The term derives from communisme, from Latin communis, meaning common or shared, and is used in political vocabulary alongside related terms such as socialist and Marxist.

In the French-speaking world, communiste is commonly used to describe both ideologies and organizations that advocate the abolition of private ownership of the means of production and the creation of a classless society, though different strands exist within the broader spectrum. Historical usage includes political parties named Parti communiste or Parti communiste français (PCF), and, more broadly, various parties and groups aligned with communist ideas. The term also appears in academic discourse to distinguish proponents of communism from other leftist currents.

Historically, modern communism emerged in the 19th century with Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, influencing socialist movements and leading to the formation of international bodies such as the Comintern in 1919. The 20th century saw the establishment of communist states in several countries and a global Cold War division; the collapse of many of these regimes in the late 20th century transformed the contemporary landscape of self-described communists. Today, communiste continues to be used in political, historical, and scholarly contexts to describe individuals or movements associated with communist ideology.