Pinko: meaning, definitions and examples

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pinko

 

[ ˈpɪŋkəʊ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

political term

A 'pinko' is a colloquial term used to describe someone who holds leftist or progressive political views, but is not necessarily a full communist. The term typically implies a moderate or controlled form of leftism. It originated during the Cold War era, often used derogatorily by political opponents.

Synonyms

leftist, liberal, progressive

Examples of usage

  • He was labeled a pinko for advocating social reforms.
  • In the debate, she was called a pinko by her conservative rivals.
  • Many pinkos support varying degrees of government intervention in the economy.

Translations

Translations of the word "pinko" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pinko

🇮🇳 पिंको

🇩🇪 Pinko

🇮🇩 pinko

🇺🇦 пінко

🇵🇱 pinko

🇯🇵 ピンコ

🇫🇷 pinko

🇪🇸 pinko

🇹🇷 pinko

🇰🇷 핑코

🇸🇦 بينكو

🇨🇿 pinko

🇸🇰 pinko

🇨🇳 平克

🇸🇮 pinko

🇮🇸 pinko

🇰🇿 пинко

🇬🇪 პინკო

🇦🇿 pinko

🇲🇽 pinko

Etymology

The term 'pinko' originated in the United States during the early 20th century, particularly during the Red Scare periods. It is a combination of the word 'pink'—used to signify the color associated with communism and socialism—and the suffix '-o', a common practice in slang to refer to a person. The usage of 'pinko' peaked in the 1950s and 1960s, during a time when American society was rife with anti-communist sentiment. Those deemed to be left-wing in their beliefs were often subjected to suspicion and accusations of being communist sympathizers. The term served to categorize individuals whose political beliefs were perceived to be too liberal, especially those who advocated for policies like universal healthcare, workers' rights, and various social justice movements. Over time, 'pinko' has been utilized both pejoratively and self-referentially, reflecting the shifting attitudes towards leftist ideologies in American politics.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,655, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.