EN
The article is an attempt at presenting the phenomenon of dearchaization based on examples in socio-political lexis. First, the paper presents basic semantic processes occurring in the modern Russian language and explains the reasons for reaching “old” vocabulary: the need for the nomina- tion of objects and phenomena of the changing socio-political reality. The use of the lexis of passive vocabulary is demonstrated with an example of return to the active use of archaisms once labeled in Russian dictionaries with the qualifier “pre-revolutionary”. A separate part is dedicated to confessional lexis, within which a return to original meanings, updating and changes in dictio- nary definitions can be observed.