- : Isolationist is an example of a root plus an affix creating a new word. The root word, isolation, is the separation of a nation from others. Adding the Greek affix –ist, changes the meaning by denoting the word as a principle or doctrine that is followed. By breaking down isolationist into its morphemes the definition of the new word begins to make sense, isolate (root, meaning detach) +ion (suffix, denoting action) + ist (affix, denoting someone who hold certain principles).
Isolationist
noun; compounding
A person who follows the doctrine or foreign policy that refrains political and economic relations with other countries.
Etymology : First coined in 1899 from the noun isolation of the 1800. –Ist is a word forming element meaning one who adheres to a certain doctrine or custom, from French -iste and directly from Latin –ista.
Source : “There has been a recent argument that Trump is an isolationist” -Dan Carlin podcast
Last modified: 6 December 2016