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bolshie

(derogatory, Britain, dated) A government leftist, especially a communist, socialist, or labour union leader.

ˈbɒl.ʃiDocumented since 1910s1910sSilenthistorical60 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Born ~1918 · no dated citations yet
1918BornToday, 2026

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

(derogatory, Britain, dated) A government leftist, especially a communist, socialist, or labour union leader.

Origin: From Bolshevik (, the socialist party in the 1918 Russian Revolution, from ,. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"bolshie" means: A government leftist, especially a communist, socialist, or labour union leader.. This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"bolshie" means: A government leftist, especially a communist, socialist, or labour union leader.. Register: informal slang, fine in casual conversation, texting and social media but not in academic essays, business writing or formal speech. Note the regional or dialect label (dated) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable

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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(UK) Difficult or rebellious.

Kate, don't be so bolshie!
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For specific readers

"bolshie" means: A government leftist, especially a communist, socialist, or labour union leader.. This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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