How Do You Spell REFUSENIKS?

Pronunciation: [ɹɪfjˈuːsənˌɪks] (IPA)

Refuseniks is a word used to describe Jewish people who were denied permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union. Its spelling is derived from the word "refuse", meaning to decline or reject something. The first syllable is pronounced with the "r" sound followed by the "ih" sound, then the second syllable is pronounced with the "f" and "yoo" sound, and finally the third syllable is pronounced with the "n" and "ihk" sound. The correct IPA transcription of "refuseniks" is /ˌrɛfyuˈznɪks/.

REFUSENIKS Meaning and Definition

1. Refuseniks, derived from the phrase "to refuse," is a term used to describe individuals, particularly in the former Soviet Union, who were denied permission or chose not to emigrate. Historically, it specifically refers to Jewish individuals during the period of Soviet Jewish emigration. This term became popular in the 1960s and 1970s, when a significant number of Jews applied to leave the Soviet Union for various reasons, including the desire to reunite with family or to escape political and societal restrictions. However, the Soviet authorities often denied or delayed their applications, treating these requests as acts of betrayal or disloyalty.

   The refuseniks were individuals who defied the norms of Soviet society by openly advocating for their right to emigrate, despite facing discrimination, persecution, and administrative barriers imposed by the government. Many of them became prominent figures in the human rights movement and faced consequences such as job loss, harassment, imprisonment, or forced exile.

   The refusenik movement gained international attention and support, with activists in the West raising awareness about their plight and advocating for their release. This pressure eventually led to changes in Soviet policies, and from the mid-1980s, many refuseniks were allowed to leave the country. The term "refusenik" has since expanded to include any individuals who are denied permission to emigrate due to political or other reasons, particularly in oppressive regimes, standing as a symbol of resistance and resilience against those who seek to limit freedom of movement.

Common Misspellings for REFUSENIKS

• eefuseniks
• defuseniks
• fefuseniks
• tefuseniks
• 5efuseniks
• 4efuseniks
• rwfuseniks
• rsfuseniks
• rdfuseniks
• rrfuseniks
• r4fuseniks
• r3fuseniks
• reduseniks
• recuseniks
• revuseniks
• reguseniks
• retuseniks
• reruseniks
• refyseniks
• refhseniks

Etymology of REFUSENIKS

The term "refuseniks" originated during the era of the Soviet Union. It is derived from the Russian word "отказник" (otkaznik), which means "one who refuses" or "refuser". The term was primarily used to describe Jewish individuals in the Soviet Union who were denied permission to emigrate to Israel or any other country due to various reasons, including their cultural or religious background. These refuseniks actively sought permission to leave the country but were repeatedly refused by the Soviet government. The word gained international recognition during the 1960s and 1970s when the movement advocating for the rights of Soviet Jews and their permission to emigrate gained significant attention.