sympathizer
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sympathizer
A person who sympathizes with a particular political group, movement, or idea and supports it without being an official member.
Die Polizei befragte mehrere bekannte Sympathisanten der extremistischen Gruppierung.
The police questioned several known sympathizers of the extremist group.
'Der Sympathisant' (the sympathizer) is derived from the verb 'sympathisieren' (to sympathize) and the noun 'die Sympathie' (sympathy). So a sympathizer is someone who has sympathy for an idea or group.
Er sympathisiert seit Langem mit den Zielen der Umweltschutzbewegung.
He has long sympathized with the goals of the environmental movement.
This word is used almost exclusively in a political or ideological context. It describes a person who supports a group but is not a formal member.
Bei der Demonstration waren nicht nur Mitglieder, sondern auch viele Sympathisanten anwesend.
At the demonstration, not only members were present, but also many sympathizers.
To say what someone sympathizes with, you often use the genitive or the preposition 'von' (of / from). For example: 'ein Sympathisant der Protestbewegung' (a sympathizer of the protest movement) or 'ein Sympathisant von dieser Partei' (a sympathizer of this party).
Er gilt als Sympathisant der neuen Regierung.
He is considered a sympathizer of the new government.
Careful: the word can have a detached or negative connotation. It is often used by outsiders, e.g. authorities or journalists, to associate a person with a group, especially when that group is viewed critically.
Die Ermittlungen konzentrieren sich auf das Umfeld der Sympathisanten.
The investigations are focusing on the circle of sympathizers.
member
'das Mitglied' and 'der Sympathisant' can both have to do with a group, party, or movement. The important difference is official belonging. A member officially belongs to it, for example by registering or being accepted. A sympathizer supports an idea or group and approves of it, but is not an official member. The words are easy to confuse because both people can be close to a group. Remember: A member is inside the organization; a sympathizer is more on the outside, but supports it.
Bei der Demonstration waren auch viele Sympathisanten der Bewegung dabei.
Many sympathizers of the movement were also present at the demonstration.
Clara ist Mitglied in einer Gruppe, die alten Menschen beim Einkaufen hilft.
Clara is a member of a group that helps elderly people with their shopping.