activist

Pluralactivists

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A citizen who is politically active, especially one who campaigns for social or political change.

   The climate activist spent years lobbying lawmakers to cut emissions.

   Local activists collected thousands of signatures to save the old park.

   Similarcampaigner, advocate, crusader, protester

   Note

   Built plainly from active and -ist, the word names a person by what they do about a cause. The cause usually comes first as a modifier: environmental activists, climate activists. That slot can also hold a named project being opposed, as in HS2 activists. To say what someone campaigns for, put the issue before the noun rather than adding a phrase after it.

2. 2
   adjective

   Behaving in the manner of an activist; campaigning energetically for political or social change.

   The judge took an activist approach, pushing for sweeping legal reforms.

   Critics accused the agency of activist enforcement that overstepped its mandate.

   Similarinterventionist, militant

   Oppositerestrained, passive

   Note

   The adjective is gradable, so it takes more activist, most activist and too activist. It most often describes institutions such as a court, a board or a justice. Applied to a court it can carry a complaint of overreach, as when Gov. Chris Christie said New Jersey's Supreme Court was "too liberal and too activist." In business writing, BusinessWeek called GM's board "the most activist board ever."

   The new board proved far more activist than shareholders had expected.

   Opponents argued that the court had become too activist in rewriting the law.

3. 3
   nouncountable

   Someone who is noticeably energetic and active in performing the duties of a job or profession.

   He was an activist within the firm, restructuring departments others had ignored for years.

   The committee valued activists who pushed reforms through quickly.

   Similardoer, reformer

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