3 syllables: Act, iv, ists. Stress on Act.
AK-tuh-vuhsts
/ˈæktəvəsts/
Activists is pronounced AK-tuh-vuhsts (/ˈæktəvəsts/). It has three syllables (Act-iv-ists), with the stress on "Act". Activists is a plural noun referring to people who actively work to bring about social, political, or environmental change, often through organized campaigns, advocacy, or protest. The term emphasizes active, ongoing effort rather than passive support, and it can describe individuals or groups across various movements. Usage spans formal reporting to informal discussions about civic engagement.
nounActivists is a plural noun referring to people who actively work to bring about social, political, or environmental change, often through organized campaigns, advocacy, or protest. The term emphasizes active, ongoing effort rather than passive support, and it can describe individuals or groups across various movements. Usage spans formal reporting to informal discussions about civic engagement.
"The activists organized a series of demonstrations to demand climate policy reform."
"Community activists partnered with local businesses to raise awareness about housing rights."
"Young activists used social media to mobilize volunteers for the election drive."
Pronounce as /ˈæk.tɪ.vɪsts/ (US/UK guidance) with primary stress on the first syllable. Break it into three syllables: AC-tiv-ists. The middle vowel is a short /ɪ/ as in 'kit', and the final /-sts/ is a crisp /st/ followed by a light /s/. Mouth: begin with a wide open front vowel, tip of the tongue high and forward for /æ/; for /t/ place the tongue tip behind the upper teeth; for /ɪ/ relax the jaw and lift the tongue mid-high; end with a strong /s/ and a light /t/ release. Audio reference: listen to native speakers in Pronounce or Forvo; repeat slowly at first, then match rhythm.
Common errors include mixing the /ɪ/ in the second syllable with /iː/ from words like 'beat', producing /ˈæk.tiː.vɪsts/; and softening the final /t/ or turning /st/ into /s/ or /z/. Another frequent slip is stressing the second syllable rather than the first: /ˈæk.tɪ.vɪsts/ vs. /ˈæk.tɪ.vɪsts/. Correction: keep the primary stress on the first syllable, maintain a short lax /ɪ/ in the middle, and articulate a crisp /t/ before the /s/. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘activist’ vs ‘activity’ to reinforce the /t/ and /s/ distinction in multi-syllabic endings.
In US and UK, the first syllable carries primary stress with /æ/ or /a/ in American English, sounding like /ˈæk.tɪ.vɪsts/. The rhotic US accent keeps an audible /r/ in related words, but not in this word; rhoticity does not affect this term. In Australian English, you may hear a more centralized /æ/ or a slightly broader /æː/ depending on speaker; the /ɪ/ in the second syllable remains short. The final /sts/ cluster is typically crisp in all three, though Australians may have a slightly elided /t/? Not common; most speakers preserve the /t/ release before /s/. Overall, keep the same three-syllable rhythm with primary stress on the first syllable.
The difficulty centers on the contrastive /æ/ vs /a/ in the first vowel, the short /ɪ/ in the middle, and a crisp /t/ before final /s/ in a rapid plural form. The /-vɪsts/ ending can blur under fast speech; the /t/ can be unreleased if you snip the syllable, or the /s/ can slur into a /z/ voice. To master, practice the three-syllable rhythm with slow releases: АК-tih-vihsts, then speed up while keeping the /t/ clearly released before the /s/.
The plural ending is not a suffix of a suffix here, but a simple plural through /-ists/. The /t/ before /s/ remains an important non-sibilant stop, which makes the final cluster /-sts/ crisp. Some learners may run together the middle syllable into a schwa; keep the middle /ɪ/ sound distinct. Also ensure the final /s/ maintains voicelessness. In connected speech, you may reduce the second syllable slightly but keep the first syllable as the stressed nucleus.
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The word activist derives from activistus in Latin, meaning ‘a doer or agent of action,’ formed from actus ‘a doing, action’ + -ivus indicating a tendency or capability. In English, activism dates to the late 19th century, with activist usage emerging in the mid-20th century to describe people who actively advocate or mobilize—for civil rights, labor, or political causes. The sense gradually broadened from political agitators to anyone engaged in organized social change, not merely rhetoric but practical action. Early mentions linked to social reform movements; by the 1960s–70s, activists were closely associated with protest cultures (peace, anti-war, labor rights). In modern usage, activism includes digital campaigns, grassroots organizing, policy lobbying, and community organizing, with activists often collaborating across issue areas. The plural form activists emphasizes the collective aspect, though it frequently appears with singular or plural verbs depending on the context. The word carries a dynamic, action-oriented connotation that contrasts with more passive terms like supporters or observers, highlighting motive, energy, and sustained engagement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Activists" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Activists" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Activists"
-sts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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