adj

revolutionary

reh-vuh-LOO-shuhn-ree

adj

Involving a complete or dramatic change.

"The vaccine was a revolutionary breakthrough in medicine."

noun

A person who takes part in, or advocates, a political revolution.

"The old revolutionary spent his final years writing memoirs."

How to Use Revolutionary

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither "causing dramatic change" (adjective) or "a person fighting to overthrow the existing order" (noun).

Common pairings

revolutionary idea revolutionary leader truly revolutionary

more revolutionary comparative, revolutionaries plural, most revolutionary superlative

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The vaccine was a _____ breakthrough in medicine.

Modelled on French révolutionnaire, formed from revolution plus -ary.

vary Mary nary wary Gary Cary diary ovary weary scary teary deary