revolutionary
Meaning: Involving or causing a complete and dramatic change; relating to or engaged in political revolution, the forcible overthrow of an established government or social order.
Revolutionary functions as both adjective and noun. As an adjective, it has two main senses: the political (relating to revolution as a means of regime change) and the broader (denoting any radical, transformative innovation). As a noun, it refers to a person who advocates or participates in revolution. In academic and journalistic writing, it is important to distinguish between these senses, as calling a technology 'revolutionary' is hyperbolic in a way that calling a movement 'revolutionary' is not. Common collocations include 'revolutionary change,' 'revolutionary ideas,' 'revolutionary movement,' and 'revolutionary technology.'
Examples
- The revolutionary movement that swept through Europe in 1848 toppled monarchies and redrew the political map of the continent. 1848年席卷欧洲的革命运动推翻了多个君主政体,重新划定了欧洲大陆的政治版图。El movimiento revolucionario que recorrió Europa en 1848 derribó monarquías y redibujó el mapa político del continente.1848年にヨーロッパを席巻した革命運動は君主制を打倒し、大陸の政治地図を塗り替えた。1848년 유럽을 휩쓴 혁명 운동은 군주제를 무너뜨리고 대륙의 정치 지도를 다시 그렸다.
- The discovery of penicillin was a revolutionary advance that transformed the treatment of bacterial infections worldwide. 青霉素的发现是一项革命性的进步,改变了全世界对细菌感染的治疗方式。El descubrimiento de la penicilina fue un avance revolucionario que transformó el tratamiento de las infecciones bacterianas en todo el mundo.ペニシリンの発見は、世界中の細菌感染症の治療を一変させた革命的な進歩であった。페니실린의 발견은 전 세계적으로 세균 감염의 치료를 일변시킨 혁명적 진보였다.
- She was a revolutionary in the truest sense, risking imprisonment and exile in pursuit of democratic reform. 她是真正意义上的革命者,为追求民主改革而冒着被监禁和流放的风险。Era una revolucionaria en el sentido más genuino, arriesgando prisión y exilio en pos de la reforma democrática.彼女は真の意味での革命家であり、民主的改革の追求のために投獄と亡命の危険を冒した。그녀는 진정한 의미의 혁명가로, 민주적 개혁의 추구를 위해 투옥과 망명의 위험을 감수했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: political, academic, historical, media
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From French révolutionnaire, from révolution, ultimately from Late Latin revolutio meaning 'a revolving or turning around,' from revolvere (to roll back). The political sense emerged in the late 18th century during the French and American revolutions.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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