separatist
noun
sep·a·rat·ist
ˈse-p(ə-)rə-tist 
ˈse-pə-ˌrā-
: one that favors separatism: such as
a
capitalized
: one of a group of 16th and 17th century English Protestants preferring to separate from rather than to reform the Church of England
b
: an advocate of independence or autonomy for a part of a political unit (such as a nation)
c
: an advocate of racial or cultural separation
separatist
adjective
Examples of separatist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Putin annexed Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula and began supporting pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country in 2014.
—
Alexander Smith, NBC news, 4 June 2025
That conflict had recently escalated, with pro-Russian separatists seizing key towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk after Russia illegally annexed the peninsula of Crimea in February 2014.
—Anna Batta, The Conversation, 2 June 2025
Subsequently, Russia annexed Crimea, pro-Russian separatists proclaimed the independence of the oblasts that comprise the Donbas region, and the Russo-Ukrainian war began.
—Clare Morell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
The oil-rich province is home to a small but dedicated minority of separatists.
—Amber Bracken, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for separatist
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Alexander Smith, NBC news, 4 June 2025
That conflict had recently escalated, with pro-Russian separatists seizing key towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk after Russia illegally annexed the peninsula of Crimea in February 2014.
—Anna Batta, The Conversation, 2 June 2025
Subsequently, Russia annexed Crimea, pro-Russian separatists proclaimed the independence of the oblasts that comprise the Donbas region, and the Russo-Ukrainian war began.
—Clare Morell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
The oil-rich province is home to a small but dedicated minority of separatists.
—Amber Bracken, New York Times, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for separatist
Cite this Entry
“Separatist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/separatist. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
separatist
noun
sep·a·rat·ist
ˈsep(-ə)-rət-əst
: a person who favors separation (as from a church or party)
separatism
noun
-rə-ˌtiz-əm
separatist
adjective
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