EuroscepticEuroskepticadj.n.
/ˌjʊərəʊˈskɛptɪk/, /ˌjɔːrəʊˈskɛptɪk/, U.S. /ˌjəroʊˈskɛptɪk/, /ˌjʊroʊˈskɛptɪk/ Originally British.
A. adj.
Of or designating a Eurosceptic; characterized by Euroscepticism.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > dissent or disagreement > [adjective] > relating to spec.
Eurosceptic1971
society > authority > rule or government > politics > British politics > [adjective] > relating to Euro-scepticism
Eurosceptic1971
Eurosceptical1990
1971 Spectator 12 June 9/1 The Euro-sceptic Chiefs of Staff, and Lords Carrington and Balniel, equally sceptical.
1990 Financial Times 15 Nov. 14/7 That may be wishful thinking, however, given the strength of the ‘Euro-sceptic’ wing still backing Mrs Thatcher.
1996 Scotsman 23 July 15/1 Whenever [he] draws a line in the sand, you can be sure some Eurosceptic bully will come along and kick it in his face.
2001 Times 22 Jan. i. 15/1 [In] July, the EU's six-month rotating presidency, at present held by eurosceptic Sweden, passes to Belgium.
2004 Independent 26 Nov. i. 22/1 They were a largely anonymous band of Tory MPs whose Eurosceptic plottings led..[him] to label them ‘The Bastards’.
B. n.
A person, esp. a politician, having doubts or reservations regarding the supposed benefits of increasing cooperation between the member states of the European Union (and formerly the European Economic Community); an opponent of greater political or economic integration in Europe.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > dissent or disagreement > [noun] > specific > one who
Eurosceptic1978
society > authority > rule or government > politics > British politics > [noun] > specific principles or policies > supporters of
reformist1641
reformer1648
engager1650
All the Virtues1816
Manchester school1846
fair trader1881
Manchestrist1882
Little Englander1889
Manchesterian1897
tariff-reformer1903
Little Englander Liberal1909
Poplarist1925
marketeer1962
Eurosceptic1978
1978 Guardian 27 June 6/3 He is not a man to commend himself to anti-marketeers or even ‘Euro-sceptics’ in Britain.
1985 Times 11 Nov. 16/5 Cockfield—appointed by Thatcher, ironically, for being a Euro-sceptic—has taken to making visionary statements recently.
1991 World Press Rev. Nov. 9/1 Only diehard Euro-skeptics believe that the European Union part of this scenario will never see the light of day.
1992 Independent 31 Oct. 29/6 I'm not a Eurosceptic. I'm a Europragmatist... I would support the treaty if we could get a proper definition of subsidiarity, but I won't support a motion that says, ‘We are going to ratify Maastricht. Have a nice day!’
2004 Politics Oct. 42/2 Whatever he does to try belatedly to win them back will be ridiculed by Europhiles and meet with a wall of doubt from Eurosceptics.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1971