a sudden and complete change of government or political system, usually brought about by the people through protest, rebellion, or force
The French revolution of 1789 changed the course of European history.
After years of oppression, the people finally staged a revolution and toppled the dictator.
✦ Late Middle English from Old French, from late Latin revolutio(n-), from revolvere ‘roll back, turn over’.
a very great and fast change in ideas, methods, or technology that completely transforms a field or way of life
The digital revolution transformed how we communicate.
Some experts say that artificial intelligence will spark the next revolution in medicine.
one complete orbit that a planet, moon, or other object makes around another body in space
The Earth's revolution around the Sun takes about 365 days.
A comet's long, elliptical revolution can take hundreds of years.
one complete turn of an object around its own center or axis
The engine runs at 3,000 revolutions per minute.
One full revolution of the wheel moves the bike forward by two meters.
bringing about or involving a sudden, dramatic, and important change; completely new and different from what existed before
The company unveiled a revolutionary smartphone with a foldable screen.
Scientists announced a revolutionary therapy that could cure a rare disease.
✦ Derived from revolution + -ary, first used in English in the late 18th century to describe things connected with the French Revolution and later any major change.
a person who supports, plans, or takes part in a political revolution
Che Guevara is remembered as a revolutionary who fought for social justice.
The government arrested the young revolutionary after the protest.
✦ Noun use began in the early 19th century to label people involved in or advocating revolution.
relating to or supporting a political revolution
The rebels spread revolutionary pamphlets calling for independence.
She sang old revolutionary songs that roused the crowd.
✦ The political sense grew out of its association with the French and later other political revolutions during the late 18th and 19th centuries.
