an elected governmental council in a communist country (especially one that is a member of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
"The delegates gathered at the soviet to vote on new agricultural policies."
A workers' council, an institution first formed during the 1905 Russian Revolution and then instituted as the main form of communist government at all levels in the Soviet Union; by extension, a similar organization in early Chinese communism and elsewhere.
"During his trip to Moscow, every soviet was required to show their passport at each checkpoint."
A citizen of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
In plain English: A soviet is an elected council of people who make decisions for their community during times when Russia was ruled by communists.
"The old soviet building in town was recently renovated into apartments."
Usage: In modern usage, "soviet" almost exclusively refers to the council-based governments that ruled Russia and Eastern Europe during the 20th century. When used as an adjective, it describes systems or policies modeled after those specific communist regimes rather than generic worker councils.
of or relating to or characteristic of the former Soviet Union or its people
"Soviet leaders"
Pertaining to or resembling a soviet (council).
"The soviet government implemented new policies across all of its constituent republics during that era."
Pertaining to the Soviet Union or its constituent republics.
In plain English: Soviet means belonging to or supporting Russia's former communist government system where people were supposed to rule together but actually followed strict party rules instead of being free.
"The soviet government made decisions without consulting individual citizens."
Borrowed from Russian сове́т (sovét, "council"), from Old Russian borrowed from Old Church Slavonic съвѣтъ (sŭvětŭ, "advice"). Compounded from съ- (sŭ-) + вѣтъ (větŭ, "agreement"), from Proto-Slavic *větъ ("council, talk"). Related words include наве́т (navét), изве́т (izvét), отве́т (otvét), приве́т (privét), обе́т (obét), ве́че (véče), отвеча́ть (otvečátʹ), отве́тить (otvétitʹ), завеща́ть (zaveščátʹ), and совещаться (soveščatʹsja). Probably cognate with Polish witać ("to welcome").