reactionary

/riˌækʃəˈnɛri/

/riˈækʃɪnɛri/

Other forms: reactionaries

A reactionary is someone who opposes reform or change, especially in the realm of politics.

A reactionary is someone reacting (in horror) to what others consider to be progress. No one describes themselves as reactionary — you will hear it more often as a condemnation, as in "I cannot support the reactionary policy of mandatory military service for 18-year-olds."

Definitions of reactionary

1. adjective

   extremely conservative
   synonyms: far-right, reactionist

   right

   of or belonging to the political or intellectual right
2. noun

   an extreme conservative; an opponent of progress or liberalism
   synonyms: extreme right-winger, ultraconservative

   types:

   Bourbon

   a reactionary politician in the United States (usually from the South)

   Blimp, Colonel Blimp

   any elderly pompous reactionary ultranationalistic person (after the cartoon character created by Sir David Low)

   type of:

   conservative, conservativist

   a person who is reluctant to accept changes and new ideas