Progressivist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who advocates for social, political, or educational reform based on modern methods and forward-thinking principles rather than traditional approaches
2. An individual who promotes progressive changes in society, advocating for innovations in political, social, or educational spheres, often challenging established norms and practices
3. A supporter of progressive ideologies who seeks to implement reforms in governance, societal structures, or educational systems, emphasizing forward-looking and modern strategies

Etymology: "Progressivist" is a plain formation: the adjective "progressive" with the suffix "-ist" added, turning it into a noun for a person who holds or follows the position. The suffix "-ist" comes from Greek "-istes", and it has been used since antiquity to name practitioners and adherents, as in "artist", "psychologist" or "Marxist". Attaching it to "progressive" follows the same pattern, so the word describes someone who supports progressive ideas in the same way a "socialist" supports socialism. "Progressive" itself carries the older sense of movement forward, from the Latin "progressus", "a going forward". Its political sense developed later, when it came to describe those favouring steady advance and reform, and "progressivist" follows that sense. Because the word is a direct derivation rather than a borrowing, its history is largely that of its two parts. Its meaning has stayed close to the political sense of its base, with "progressive" supplying the core idea of forward-looking reform and "-ist" marking the supporter.

Synonyms: progressive, reformer

Antonyms: traditionalist