rivoluzionari

Rivoluzionari is an Italian term that functions as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, rivoluzionario describes something related to a revolution or aimed at radical change, for example, a movimento rivoluzionario. As a noun, rivoluzionario (singular) or rivoluzionari (plural) refers to a person who advocates for or participates in a revolution, i.e., a revolutionist or revolutionary. The feminine forms are rivoluzionaria (singular) and rivoluzionarie (plural). The word derives from rivoluzione, meaning revolution, with the agentive suffix -ario.

In historical and political contexts, rivoluzionari is used to describe actors in revolutionary movements, whether in the 19th or 20th centuries or in broader debates about political change. The usage can be neutral, descriptive, or polemical, depending on the speaker and the surrounding discourse. In contemporary Italian, the term may refer to radical ideas, organizations, or individuals advocating fundamental change, though it can carry different connotations depending on the context and perspective.

The plural rivoluzionari agrees with masculine or mixed-gender subjects; feminine equivalents are rivoluzionarie. The term is common in academic writing, journalism, and historical accounts to categorize people or ideologies associated with revolutions, as well as to describe movements perceived as aiming to overturn established orders.

See also: Rivoluzione; Rivoluzionario; Movimenti rivoluzionari; Radicalismo.