pro-Europeanadj.n.
/prəʊˌjʊərəˈpiːən/, /prəʊˌjɔːrəˈpiːən/, U.S. /ˈˌproʊˌjərəˈpiən/, /ˈˌproʊˌjurəˈpiən/ A. adj.
That favours Europe or Europeans; (now spec.) that supports a policy of political and economic integration within Europe, esp. by advocating closer British links with the European Union.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > international agreements > [adjective] > relating to E.E.C. > supporting E.C.
pro-European1859
society > society and the community > social attitudes > patriotism > liking for or sympathy with other nations > [adjective] > Europe
pro-European1962
1859 Times 24 Aug. 7/1 A Bill for Simplifying the Courts of Criminal Procedure afforded them another opportunity of taking the pro-European side (not by any means, therefore, anti-native).
1894 Daily Kennebec Jrnl. (Augusta, Maine) 4 Aug. 1/6 The Emperor has been influenced in his action by members of his family hostile to the Viceroy's pro-European policy.
1922 S. B. Fay tr. E. Fueter World Hist. v. xxix. 331 The army was enlarged and purified of its pro-European elements.
1962 Guardian 10 July 18/7 The Liberals alone have a consistently pro-European tradition.
1979 Guardian 28 Apr. 32/2 A tougher line on Europe may upset the more pro-European wing of her party.
1997 Independent 6 May 8/5 Is this what the British Labourites mean by a more democratic and pro-European policy?
2002 A. Forster Euroscepticism in Contemp. Brit. Politics ii. 19 Eden was instinctively anti-European and considered Churchill and his pro-European allies within the Conservative Party overly sentimental.
B. n.
A pro-European person, esp. one who advocates or supports a policy of political and economic integration within Europe.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social attitudes > patriotism > liking for or sympathy with other nations > [noun] > Europe
pro-European1924
society > authority > rule or government > politics > international politics or relations > international agreements > [noun] > customs union or common market > specific > supporter of
pro-European1924
Europeanist1956
common marketeer1957
pro-marketeer1961
Eurofanatic1967
euro-creep1982
1924 Sunday State Jrnl. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 12 Oct. a2/5 I find that, when questioned closely, the most rabid pro-Europeans are those who have just made their first trans-Atlantic trip and who have as yet, traveled little in America.
1963 Ann. Reg. 1962 35 The pro-Europeans in the country were a majority of the under-45s, of the over-£25 a week men.., and of those educated past the age of 16.
1971 New Yorker 3 July 64 The highly uncertain future if Britain does not go into Europe has not yet been adequately explained or understood, according to some anxious pro-Europeans.
1995 Times 9 June 8/1 After the upsurge of in-fighting four months ago, the pro-Europeans and the sceptics have had an armed truce, at least ahead of the writing of the Tory manifesto.
2005 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 26 Jan. 11 The younger generation of diplomats insists that it is scrupulously fair when talking about the Palestinian question. ‘The divide now is between pro-Europeans and pro-Americans,’ says one high-flier.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1859