Definition of "tankie" in English

noun

1. (UK, politics, slang, historical) A member of the Communist Party of Great Britain who supported the Soviet Union's policy of crushing revolts in Hungary in the 1950s and Czechoslovakia in the 1960s by sending tanks into those countries.

2. (politics, slang, derogatory, by extension) A supporter of policies and actions by the Soviet Union, China, Cuba or other authoritarian socialist (chiefly Marxist-Leninist) governments.

   • As far as the Sparklies were concerned the new comics were scruffy herberts who shouted ‘Fuck Thatcher’ over and over, while raving Tankie Stalinists hooted indiscriminately in the front row.

3. (military, slang) A soldier from a tank regiment.

4. (rail transport, slang) A tank engine.

adjective

1. (politics, slang, derogatory) Supporting the policies of the Soviet Union or other Marxist-Leninist governments.