Technically, a communist is an adherent of the ideology of Communism. In political science terms, this is a sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic doctrine that aims to establish a specific type of social order.

The core characteristics of a communist definition include:

Abolition of Private Property: Unlike fascists (who allow private property under state control) or capitalists, a communist defines "private property" (specifically the means of production like factories, land, and infrastructure) as the root of social evil. They believe these should be owned commonly by the society.

Class Struggle: A communist views history through the lens of "Historical Materialism"—a struggle between the ruling class (the bourgeoisie who own the capital) and the working class (the proletariat who sell their labor).

The Goal (Statelessness): The ultimate definition of a communist society is one that is stateless, classless, and moneyless. Note: This is distinct from "Socialism," which Marxists define as the transitionary phase where the State still exists to manage the economy before it eventually "withers away."

The "Opium of the People": Communists historically define religion as a tool used by the ruling class to keep workers passive ("the opium of the people"), leading to state atheism in most communist regimes.

The Theory View: In pure theory, a communist supports a democratic, stateless society where everyone shares.

The Empirical Reality: In every empirical instance where a "Communist Party" took power (USSR, Maos China, Cambodia), the result was not a stateless paradise but a highly authoritarian, totalitarian regime with state-controlled economies, leading to mass repression and famine.