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
Chinese forces largely defeated the Uyghur separatist group known as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) a decade ago in Xinjiang but its offshoot, the Turkestan Islamic Party, continues to operate in Afghanistan and Syria.
—
John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Local media in both India and Canada linked Trudeau’s reception – or lack thereof – to the issue of Sikh separatists.
—Lex Harvey, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
In the 1960s, King's Christian vision for the nation was at odds with a competing vision from Black leaders like Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam—and Black separatists and Black nationalists who abhorred King's vision of an America where Blacks and whites would one day live side by side in peace.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Image Along with fighters in Syria and Iraq, Ukrainians were among the pioneers, with several crews using quadcopters in the war against separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014.
—C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for separatist 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
Local media in both India and Canada linked Trudeau’s reception – or lack thereof – to the issue of Sikh separatists.
—Lex Harvey, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
In the 1960s, King's Christian vision for the nation was at odds with a competing vision from Black leaders like Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam—and Black separatists and Black nationalists who abhorred King's vision of an America where Blacks and whites would one day live side by side in peace.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Image Along with fighters in Syria and Iraq, Ukrainians were among the pioneers, with several crews using quadcopters in the war against separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014.
—C.j. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for separatist
Dictionary Entries Near separatist
Cite this Entry
“Separatist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/separatist. Accessed 16 Feb. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share