Definition

Noun: 1. A member of a radical political movement: Specifically, a young person in China who was part of a mass paramilitary social movement, active during the initial phase of the Cultural Revolution (c. 1966-1968). These individuals were mobilized to enforce Maoist ideology and attack perceived enemies of the Communist Party and traditional elements of Chinese society.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • During the Cultural Revolution, a Red Guard might denounce a teacher for having "bourgeois" ideas.
  • The Red Guards were known for their fervent loyalty to Chairman Mao.
  • Historical accounts describe the violent campaigns led by the Red Guards.

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in a historical context to describe this specific group and period.
• It can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe things related to the movement, e.g., "Red Guard faction," "Red Guard activism."

Variants and Related Words

• Red Guards (plural noun): The collective term for the movement's members.
• Red Guardism (noun, rare): The principles or activities associated with the Red Guards.

Synonyms

• Maoist militant (general)
• Cultural Revolution activist (descriptive)

Notes on Meaning

• The term carries significant historical and political weight. It refers not to a formal military unit but to a revolutionary militia of students and youths.
• In contemporary discourse, the term is neutral-historical; however, assessments of the Red Guards' actions and legacy vary widely.

Noun

1. a radical political movement by Chinese youths who espoused Maoist principles