Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Revolution has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
"the industrial revolution was also a cultural revolution"
the overthrow of a government by those who are governed
"The citizens finally rose up in revolution to overthrow the corrupt dictator and establish a democratic republic."
a single complete turn (axial or orbital)
"the plane made three rotations before it crashed"
"the revolution of the earth about the sun takes one year"
A political upheaval in a government or state characterized by great change.
"The sudden revolution toppled the monarchy and replaced it with a democratic republic."
In plain English: A revolution is a complete and sudden change that turns something upside down.
"The invention of the washing machine was a revolution in how families clean their clothes."
Usage: Use this term to describe a violent overthrow of an established government that results in fundamental social or political transformation, rather than minor reforms. It is often confused with the verb "revolve," which simply means to move around a central point without implying regime change.
The word "revolution" comes from the Latin revolutio, meaning "the act of revolving." It entered English through Middle and Old French to describe a complete circular movement.