refusenik
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
One of the citizens of the former Soviet Union who was refused permission to emigrate (typically but not exclusively a Jewish citizen denied permission to immigrate to Israel).
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The refuseniki say they don’t want to change anything in the U.S.S.R., only leave it.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “refusenik” mean?
One of the citizens of the former Soviet Union who was refused permission to emigrate (typically but not exclusively a Jewish citizen denied permission to immigrate to Israel).
Is “refusenik” formal or informal?
refusenik is generally slang.