Origin: Latin suffix -ary
Revolutionary has 7 different meanings across 2 categories:
a radical supporter of political or social revolution
"The revolutionary leader inspired thousands to overthrow the oppressive regime."
A revolutionist; a person who revolts.
"The revolutionary led his followers to overthrow the corrupt government."
In plain English: A revolutionary is someone who starts a major change that completely overturns an old system.
"That revolutionary changed history by leading his country to independence."
markedly new or introducing radical change
"a revolutionary discovery"
"radical political views"
of or relating to or characteristic or causing an axial or orbital turn
"The engineer designed a revolutionary gear system that ensures every component completes a precise axial and orbital turn without friction."
relating to or having the nature of a revolution
"revolutionary wars"
"the Revolutionary era"
Of or pertaining to a revolution in government; tending to, or promoting, revolution
"The revolutionary leaders seized control of the palace to overthrow the corrupt monarchy."
In plain English: Something revolutionary is so new and exciting that it completely changes how things are done before.
"The new smartphone features were so revolutionary that everyone bought them immediately."
Usage: Use this adjective primarily when describing ideas, methods, or products that represent a radical and sudden change rather than just significant improvement. Avoid confusing it with "innovative," which implies newness without necessarily suggesting such a dramatic shift in the status quo.
The word revolutionary comes from the French term révolutionnaire, which was formed by adding the suffix -ary to the noun revolution. It entered English with its current meaning of supporting or causing a radical political change, directly reflecting its original sense as something related to a revolution.