# reactionary

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɹiˈækʃən(ə)ɹi/ · frequency rank #21,909

## Definitions
1. Extremely conservative; opposing revolution (such as the French Revolution); favoring a return to a "golden age" of the past.
2. Of, pertaining to, participating in, or inducing a chemical reaction.
3. In reaction to; as a result of.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French réactionnaire, equivalent to reaction + -ary. Used in the time of the French revolution to refer to a person opposing the revolution; as in favoring a reaction against the revolution.

## Common misspellings (16)
`eractionary`, `raectionary`, `reacctionary`, `reacitonary`, `reactinoary`, `reactioanry`, `reactionarry`, `reactionaryy`, `reactionayr`, `reactionnary`, `reactionray`, `reactoinary`, `reacttionary`, `reatcionary`, `recationary`, `rreactionary`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/reactionary