Nazi
Nazi (noun) means a member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, which ruled Germany under Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945. Example: “The museum documents how the Nazis rose to power.”
How to use Nazi
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefers to the WWII-era German fascist party and its ideology, or informally (and often controversially) to someone acting like a petty tyrant about rules.
The historical/political sense is a serious, weighty term; the joking "grammar nazi" usage is casual slang some people consider disrespectful given the history.
Word forms
more Nazi comparative, Nazis plural, most Nazi superlative
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The museum documents how the _____ rose to power.
Etymology
A German clipping of Nationalsozialist ("National Socialist"), first used around 1930; the coincidental resemblance to "Nazi" as an old nickname for the name Ignaz may have made the abbreviation stick as an insult.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for Nazi
See all rhymes for Nazi →Frequently asked questions
What does “Nazi” mean?
The word “Nazi” means a member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, which ruled Germany under Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945. In plain terms, refers to the WWII-era German fascist party and its ideology, or informally (and often controversially) to someone acting like a petty tyrant about rules.
How do you pronounce “Nazi”?
“Nazi” is pronounced NAHT-see (/ˈnɑːtsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “Nazi” in a sentence?
Here is “Nazi” used in a sentence: “The museum documents how the Nazis rose to power.”
What part of speech is “Nazi”?
Depending on how it is used, “Nazi” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Nazi” come from?
The word “Nazi” dates back to around 1930 and comes from German. A German clipping of Nationalsozialist ("National Socialist"), first used around 1930; the coincidental resemblance to "Nazi" as an old nickname for the name Ignaz may have made the abbreviation stick as an insult.
Is “Nazi” a common word?
“Nazi” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Nazi” have?
“Nazi” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, which ruled Germany under Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945.
What is the difference between a "Nazi" and a "neo-Nazi"?
A Nazi was originally a member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party that governed Germany under Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945. A neo-Nazi is a person today who revives or supports that ideology.
Should "Nazi" be written with a capital N?
When referring to the historical party and its members, "Nazi" is a proper noun and is capitalised. It is generally capitalised in careful writing whether describing the historical movement or its modern followers.
Where does the word "Nazi" come from?
"Nazi" is a short form based on the German pronunciation of "Nationalsozialist," the opening of the party's full name. It came into use as a brief label for members of that party.
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