name
Uncommon
Gestapo
geh-STAH-poh
Gestapo (name) means the secret state police of Nazi Germany, notorious for surveillance, terror, and persecution. Example: “The Gestapo arrested anyone suspected of resisting the regime.”
name
1
The secret state police of Nazi Germany, notorious for surveillance, terror, and persecution.
"Fortunately this was Spain and not Germany. The Spanish secret police had some of the spirit of the Gestapo, but not much of its competence."
— George Orwell pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair (1938)
"The Gestapo arrested anyone suspected of resisting the regime."
2
Any harshly oppressive or intrusive group or organisation (used figuratively and often as an exaggeration).
"He complained that the new office rules felt like something out of the Gestapo."
How to use Gestapo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNazi Germany's secret police, or (loosely and often hyperbolically) any harshly controlling authority.
When to use it
Using it figuratively for everyday rules or petty enforcement can come across as tasteless given its historical weight.
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The _____ arrested anyone suspected of resisting the regime.
Etymology
A German contraction of Geheime Staatspolizei, meaning "secret state police."
Rhymes for Gestapo
See all rhymes for Gestapo →Frequently asked questions
What does “Gestapo” mean?
The word “Gestapo” means the secret state police of Nazi Germany, notorious for surveillance, terror, and persecution. In plain terms, nazi Germany's secret police, or (loosely and often hyperbolically) any harshly controlling authority.
How do you pronounce “Gestapo”?
“Gestapo” is pronounced geh-STAH-poh (/ɡɛˈstɑpoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Gestapo” in a sentence?
Here is “Gestapo” used in a sentence: “The Gestapo arrested anyone suspected of resisting the regime.”
What part of speech is “Gestapo”?
“Gestapo” is a name.
Where does the word “Gestapo” come from?
The word “Gestapo” comes from German. A German contraction of Geheime Staatspolizei, meaning "secret state police.".
Is “Gestapo” a common word?
“Gestapo” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Gestapo” have?
“Gestapo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the secret state police of Nazi Germany, notorious for surveillance, terror, and persecution.
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