noun
pogrom
POG-rum
Pogrom (noun) means an organised riot or attack intended to persecute or massacre a particular ethnic or religious group, especially Jews. Example: “Many families fled the village after the pogrom.”
noun
1
An organised riot or attack intended to persecute or massacre a particular ethnic or religious group, especially Jews.
"Many families fled the village after the pogrom."
"Historians have documented the pogroms that drove Jewish families from their homes."
"The museum has an exhibition about survivors of the pogrom."
How to use pogrom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA violent, organised attack on a minority group, most often used of attacks on Jews.
When to use it
It is a serious, formal word used mainly in historical and political writing.
Memory tip
Use it for attacks on a group, not for a single crime against one person.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
anti-Jewish pogrom
pogrom victims
survivors of the pogrom
a wave of pogroms
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Many families fled the village after the _____.
Etymology
English borrowed the word from Yiddish, which took it from Russian.
Frequently asked questions
What does pogrom mean?
A pogrom is a violent riot aimed at persecuting or massacring an ethnic or religious group, usually Jews.
Where does the word pogrom come from?
It came into English from Yiddish, which took it from Russian.
How do you pronounce pogrom?
In British English it is pronounced 'POG-rum', with the stress on the first syllable.
What is the meaning of pogrom?
"pogrom" (noun) means an organised riot or attack intended to persecute or massacre a particular ethnic or religious group, especially Jews.
