[Ads-l] -ista

[Jesse Sheidlower]

Yes:

"Forming nouns denoting a person who is associated with, or has a strong enthusiasm for, the thing indicated by the first element.
Frequently applied to a left-wing person with disparaging or self-deprecating connotations, esp. implying zealotry or elitism. Also in more neutral use, without political implications; cf. _fashionista_ n."

(_fashionista_ was added in 2002, but the entry has been updated since; the latest quotation is from 2023.)

Jesse Sheidlower

On Thu, Jan 22, 2026 at 01:39:38PM -0500, Laurence Horn wrote:
> Is there a second sense included for the (relatively) apolitical “barista”, “fashionista”, et al.?
> 
> > On Jan 21, 2026, at 11:29 PM, Bill Mullins <amcombill at HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > 
> > The Dec 2025 updates for the OED included "-ista"
> > 
> > 
> > First sense: "Forming nouns denoting a supporter of a (typically left-wing) politician, party, or position indicated by the first element", with a first citation in 1982.
> > 
> > 
> > 1920 Custer County Republican [Broken Bow, NE] 12 Feb 2/3
> > For the names and causes which have represented principles and policies in American history, and under whose control all our history has been written, Federalist, Republican, Democrat and Whig, they would substitute, after the Mexican pattern, Wilsonistas, Hooveristas, Fordistas, Debsistas and the like.
> > https://www.newspapers.com/image/671385607/?match=1&terms=hooverista
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 1972 New Orleans Times-Picayune 7 Jun 10/3
> > At other caucuses McGovernistas and blacks stood on chairs, waved their fists and shouted “power.”
> > 
> > https://www.newspapers.com/image/1255820191/?match=1&terms=mcgovernista
> > 
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> > 
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org