WordGarden.iorevisionism
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /rɪvˈɪʒənˌɪzəm/
US
- /riˈvɪʒəˌnɪzəm/
Meanings
Noun
reinterpretation of established history, doctrine, or theory, especially by challenging orthodox views
departure from orthodox political doctrine, especially Marxist doctrine, in favor of reform or moderation
a state's policy of trying to alter an existing political or territorial order
Beyond the definition
Revisionism is the act of rethinking an accepted view, especially in history or politics. Sometimes that means going back over old events and offering a new interpretation because new evidence has appeared or because people are asking different questions. But in everyday use, the word is often more critical. It can suggest changing the story of the past in a misleading or biased way, especially to support an ideology. For example, people may use it for attempts to deny atrocities, soften injustice, or present a cleaner version of history than the facts support.
Revisionism refers to the act of revising or reinterpreting an accepted account, most often in history, politics, or political theory. In its broadest sense, that can be part of normal intellectual work. As new evidence appears, or as society begins to ask different questions, scholars often revisit old conclusions and offer a fresh reading of the past. In that neutral sense, revisionism is simply a process of re-examination.
At the same time, the word is very often used in a negative way. In historical debates, it may describe the distortion, denial, or selective retelling of well-supported facts in order to serve a political or ideological purpose. This can include minimizing atrocities, excusing oppressive systems, or reshaping national history into something more flattering than the evidence allows. In that sense, the problem is not honest re-evaluation but a slanted version of the past that hides, softens, or twists important facts.
The term also has a special place in Marxist history. There, it was used for attempts to revise core doctrine, especially by moving away from strict revolutionary ideas toward reformist ones. Because of that background, the word can also suggest ideological departure or doctrinal change, not just disputes about historical facts.
So the meaning depends on context. Sometimes revisionism is a legitimate rethinking of accepted beliefs. Sometimes it is a critical label for bending history to fit a present-day agenda. In both cases, the idea is the same: an established story is being challenged and replaced with another one.
Examples
- 1
Historical scholarship
The historian was accused of revisionism after publishing a book that challenged the standard account of the war.
- 2
Political ideology
Within the party, any call to soften its original ideology was condemned as revisionism.
- 3
Fresh evidence
Not every new interpretation is revisionism; sometimes fresh evidence really does change the picture.
- 4
Public debate
In public debate, the word "revisionism" often suggests a deliberate attempt to reshape the past for political purposes.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- revisionist history
- heterodoxy
Contrast
Do not confuse
- denialism
Used with (collocations)
- historical revisionism
- revisionist interpretation
- accusations of revisionism
Word family
Explore
- historiography
- paradigm shift
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- revisionismnoun