Nazi

noun

1
: a member of a German fascist party controlling Germany from 1933 to 1945 under Adolf Hitler
2
often not capitalized
a
: one who espouses the beliefs and policies of the German Nazis : fascist
b
: one who is likened to a German Nazi : a harshly domineering, dictatorial, or intolerant person
a grammar nazi
nazi adjective often capitalized
nazification noun often capitalized
nazify transitive verb often capitalized

Examples of Nazi in a Sentence

a gang of racist Nazis
Recent Examples on the Web By the Cambridge calculus, Southerners are worse than Nazis? Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 27 Feb. 2024 A couple of the speakers referenced a website filled with anti-Semitic, homophobic, transphobic, and other hateful material that included what appeared to be a logo that resembles a Nazi flag. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2024 The joke is that her explanation plays over a flashback of Susie and Eddie engaging in a shootout with a Nazi in a secret underground tunnel. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024 Since October 7th, messages in settler chat groups had portrayed olive pickers as undercover Hamas operatives and as Nazis. Shane Bauer, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Is there a right way for Google’s generative AI to create fake images of Nazis? Chris Gilliard, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2024 The eve of the war anniversary coincided with Defenders of the Fatherland Day on Friday — a Soviet-era holiday, still observed by millions of Russians, with roots in the USSR's victory over Nazi Germany. Charles Maynes, NPR, 24 Feb. 2024 On foot, he’s arrested again and, after refusing to spill secrets to a weaselly Nazi officer, is put on a train bound for the Stalag Luft III prisoner camp housing Allied air force pilots in Germany. Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024 The exhibit highlights the reactions and experiences of men and women in the U.S. military who saw firsthand evidence of Nazi atrocities in April 1945. Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Nazi.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German, by shortening & alteration from Nationalsozialist, from national national + Sozialist socialist

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Nazi was in 1930

Dictionary Entries Near Nazi

Cite this Entry

“Nazi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Nazi. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Nazi

noun
: a member of a German fascist party controlling Germany from 1933 to 1945
Nazi adjective
Nazism
ˈnät-ˌsiz-əm
ˈnat-
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on Nazi

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!