Trotskyists are a group of individuals who adhere to the political ideology of Trotskyism, which is a Marxist theory named after the Russian revolutionary and theorist Leon Trotsky. There are several synonyms for the word Trotskyists, which are often used interchangeably in political discourse. Some of these synonyms include Trotskyites, Trots, Trotskyist militants, and Trotskyist revolutionaries. Other terms used to describe individuals who follow this political ideology include Trotskyist socialists, Trotskyist communists, and Trotskyist internationalists. Regardless of the terminology used, Trotskyists are characterized by their belief in the need for revolution and their commitment to leftist politics.