russify

russify

The government tried to russify the local culture.

Definition

Verb (transitive): - To make Russian in character, culture, or language: "russify" means to impose or adopt Russian customs, language, or political control over a person, group, or territory, often as part of a deliberate policy. - To cause something to become Russian in style or identity: This can apply to institutions, traditions, or even words borrowed into the Russian language.

Usage Examples
  • (To impose Russian culture and language on a region.)
  • (To change personal identity to fit Russian norms.)
Advanced Usage

  • "Russification" (noun): the process or policy of making something Russian.

    • The russification of Ukraine was a major goal of the Soviet regime. (The systematic imposition of Russian culture and language on Ukraine.)

  • "to be russified": to have undergone the process of becoming Russian.

    • The local cuisine was heavily russified after decades of Soviet rule. (The food adopted Russian styles and ingredients.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Russification (noun): the act or process of russifying.
    • The russification of the education system was met with resistance. (The policy of making schools teach in Russian.)
  • Russifier (noun): a person or thing that promotes russification.
    • The government acted as a russifier of minority cultures. (An agent of Russian cultural imposition.)
Synonyms
  • Assimilate: to absorb into a dominant culture (often used for ethnic or cultural groups).
    • The empire sought to assimilate the conquered peoples. (Make them adopt the dominant culture.)
  • Sovietize: to make conform to Soviet political and cultural norms (a specific type of russification during the USSR era).
    • After World War II, Eastern European countries were sovietized. (Made to follow Soviet systems.)
Related Idioms
  • "To become Russian in spirit": a figurative way to describe deep cultural russification.
    • After living in Moscow for decades, he had become Russian in spirit. (He adopted Russian ways of thinking and feeling.)
Phrasal Verbs
  • Russify over time: to gradually make or become Russian through prolonged exposure.
    • The minority language was russified over time through mandatory schooling. (Slowly replaced by Russian.)