noun / adjective
fascist
FASH-ist/ˈfæʃɪst/
Supporting authoritarian ultranationalist political control.
The fascist party demands absolute obedience to its nationalist leader.
Etymology
Fascio, literally “bundle,” also meant a political association. The authoritarian sense probably came directly from such groups, influenced by the Roman fasces—a bundle of rods with an axe symbolizing official power.
In context
around half a million people dead across the country franco emerged victorious and established a fascist-style dictatorship in spain closely connected to his civil war-era allies of nazi germany and fascist italy
More examples
- The fascists promise national revival while silencing political opponents.
- She studies how fascist governments use propaganda to control public opinion.
- The fascist leader bans opposition parties and demands obedience to the state.
Forms
fascist · fascists
fascism noun — An authoritarian political ideology centered on ultranationalism.
fascistic adjective — Resembling fascism in beliefs or methods.
Similar words
- authoritarian
- Emphasizes strict obedience to authority, without necessarily involving ultranationalism.
- ultranationalist
- Emphasizes extreme national loyalty, without necessarily supporting authoritarian rule.