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Politburo

2 stages from Russian to English.

Today it means the chief policy-making committee of a Communist party

Where does the word "politburo" come from? It comes from Russian Politbyuro, adopted directly into English (1920s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
Politbyuro
Russian · 1917
"Party's top policy committee"
short for Politicheskoe byuro 'Political Bureau', byuro borrowed from French bureau; first formed in October 1917 to lead the Bolshevik uprising, and made permanent in 1919
2
Stage 2 of 2
politburo
English · 1920s
"Communist executive committee"
used for the Soviet ruling body, and later for the top committees of other Communist parties such as China's
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Read the full story

Politburo’s story begins in Russian: Politbyuro meant “Party's top policy committee.” Short for Politicheskoe byuro 'Political Bureau', byuro borrowed from French bureau; first formed in October 1917 to lead the Bolshevik uprising, and made permanent in 1919. It reached English by 1920s as politburo. Used for the Soviet ruling body, and later for the top committees of other Communist parties such as China's. Today, politburo means the chief policy-making committee of a Communist party.