What does "jacobin" mean?
Synonym of Dominican, a member of the Dominican Order, particularly its French chapter.
Jacobin
/ˈd͡ʒæk.ə.bɪn/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Synonym of Dominican, a member of the Dominican Order, particularly its French chapter.
- Grammar: jacobin is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: agitator, anarch, anarchist, anarcho-syndicalist.
- Useful contrasts: centrist, conservative, moderate.
- Usage evidence: The Jacobin dictatorship was the first act of communism.
How to use "jacobin"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "jacobin" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "jacobin" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "jacobin" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "jacobin" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "agitator" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Synonym of Dominican, a member of the Dominican Order, particularly its French chapter. dated
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Jacobin. alt-of
- 3 a member of the radical movement that instituted the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution wordnet
- 4 A member of the Jacobin Club, a radical political club prominent during the French Revolution. historical
"The Jacobins acted as a left-of-centre parliamentary pressure group, spending much of their time in coordinating the following day's business in the Assembly."
- 5 A domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) with reversed feathers on its neck.
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 A sympathizer or supposed sympathizer with the French political club or its aims of democracy and social equality. broadly, historical
- 7 Any hummingbird of the genus Florisuga.
- 8 A leftist radical in other contexts. broadly
- 9 A kind of thick French soup with cheese. obsolete
- 10 Synonym of Jacobite, a member of the Syriac Orthodox Church. archaic
- 11 Alternative letter-case form of jacobin, various birds. alt-of
Adjective
- 1 Of or related to the Jacobin Club in France. historical, not-comparable
- 2 Of or related to the radical left in other contexts. broadly, not-comparable
"[…] Mosse argued the most fascist and totalitarian in particular but also radical Jacobin regimes, continued to have an investment in not merely disciplining human bodies but harnessing their sense of glory toward worshiping themselves […]"
- 3 Synonym of Dominican, of or related to the Dominican Order, particularly its French chapter. dated, not-comparable
- 4 Synonym of Jacobite, of or related to the Syriac Orthodox Church. archaic, not-comparable
Antonyms
Example
"The Jacobin dictatorship was the first act of communism."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "jacobin"?
Common synonyms include: agitator, anarch, anarchist, anarcho-syndicalist, bolshevik, bolshevist.
How do you use "jacobin" in a sentence?
The Jacobin dictatorship was the first act of communism.
How do you pronounce "jacobin"?
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒæk.ə.bɪn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English Jacobin, from Old French jacobin, from Latin Jācōbīnus, from Latin Jācōbus (“James, Jacob, etc.”) + -īnus (“-ine: forming adjectives”), from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Biblical Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (Ya'akóv), q.v. In reference to the Dominican Order, from the proximity of their 1218 chapel and chapter house in Paris to the city's Porte Saint-Jacques, whose road formed an extension of the Way of St. James running to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. In reference to the Jacobin Club, from its 1789 founding at the former Dominican convent. In reference to the Syrian church, from Jacob bar Addai, bishop of Edessa during the mid-6th century.
Etymology 2
From Jacobin, q.v. In reference to birds, via French jacobine, from a supposed resemblance to the Dominicans' formerly standard hood or coloring. In reference to soup, via French soupe à la Jacobine.