stakhanovism

Definition

Noun (uncountable): - Stakhanovism refers to a system or policy in the former Soviet Union that encouraged and rewarded exceptionally high productivity among workers, named after Aleksei Stakhanov, a miner who reportedly exceeded his quota dramatically. It is the ideology or practice of promoting extraordinary work output, often through competition and incentives, as part of socialist labour drives.

Usage Examples
  • (A system of rewarding high productivity in a workplace.)
  • (A state-sponsored labour policy.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Stakhanovism as a cultural phenomenon": refers to the broader social and propaganda aspects, where workers were celebrated as heroes in media and art.
    • Stakhanovism created a cult of the super-worker, with posters and films glorifying record-breaking labour. (The ideological portrayal of high productivity as heroic.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Stakhanovite (noun): a worker who follows the principles of Stakhanovism; a highly productive worker.
    • He was named a Stakhanovite after exceeding his quota by 300% in one month. (A worker recognized for exceptional output.)
  • Stakhanovite (adj): relating to or characteristic of Stakhanovism.
    • The Stakhanovite movement spread to other socialist countries after World War II. (Pertaining to the productivity campaign.)
Synonyms
  • Labour heroism: the glorification of high work output.
  • Productivity drive: a campaign to increase efficiency and output.
Related Idioms
  • "To work like a Stakhanovite": to work extremely hard and efficiently, often beyond normal expectations.
    • She worked like a Stakhanovite to finish the project before the deadline. (She worked with exceptional diligence and speed.)
Note for Language Learners
  • The term is historical and specific to Soviet-era contexts. It is not commonly used in modern everyday English, but it may appear in discussions of labour history, economic systems, or metaphors for extreme productivity. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless you are referring to this specific historical phenomenon.