Nazi
Nazi
Pronunciation
Nazi
/ˈnɑːtsi/ or /ˈnætsi/
Na-: /nɑː/ or /næ/ (or /nɑ/ or /næ/ in some rapid speech contexts)
-zi: /tsi/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: Nazi
Plural Noun: Nazis
Adjective: Nazi (often used attributively, e.g., "Nazi regime")
Adverb: Nazily (less common, but can be formed from the adjective)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, led by Adolf Hitler, which controlled Germany from 1933 to 1945. This regime was responsible for the Holocaust and World War II.
Synonyms: Fascist, totalitarian, supremacist
Antonyms: Democrat, anti-fascist, liberal
Definition 2: (Derogatory) A person who is perceived as authoritarian, intolerant, or extremely rigid in their beliefs or actions, often to the point of being oppressive or controlling.
Synonyms: Tyrant, bigot, zealot, autocrat, dictator
Antonyms: Liberal, tolerant, open-minded, democrat, humanitarian
Adjective
Definition 1: Of or relating to the National Socialist German Workers' Party or its ideology, particularly its political, social, and military characteristics.
Example: "Nazi propaganda," "the Nazi regime."
Synonyms: Fascist, totalitarian, dictatorial, authoritarian
Antonyms: Democratic, liberal, egalitarian, anti-fascist
Definition 2: (Derogatory) Characterized by extreme authoritarianism, intolerance, or a rigid, oppressive adherence to a particular ideology or set of rules.
Example: "His boss has a very Nazi approach to office rules."
Synonyms: Dogmatic, despotic, tyrannical, draconian, rigid
Antonyms: Flexible, lenient, tolerant, open, liberal
Examples of Use
Books:
"When I use the word Nazi I mean it as a term of intellectual opprobrium. I am not suggesting that Donald Trump is literally a genocidal fascist. No, that would be silly." (Milo Yiannopoulos, Dangerous, March 2017)
"The first time the word 'Nazi' really registered with me was in junior high, when I read Anne Frank's diary." (David Foster Wallace, Consider the Lobster and Other Essays, October 2005)
Newspapers:
"On Monday, officials discovered dozens of Swastika symbols spray-painted on trees in the forest, along with other Nazi graffiti." (The New York Times, November 2023)
"A far-right group, whose members have been accused of holding Nazi sympathies, held a rally in the capital today." (The Guardian, June 2024)
Online Publications:
"The debate over free speech often grapples with the question of whether to platform individuals espousing Nazi ideology." (Vox.com, February 2024)
"Historians continue to unearth new documents shedding light on the inner workings of the Nazi regime during World War II." (Smithsonian Magazine Online, December 2023)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the film Schindler's List (1993), the word "Nazi" is used repeatedly to refer to members of the SS and other German authorities, as Oskar Schindler navigates the complexities of saving Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
Television Series: "The Man in the High Castle" (Amazon Prime Video, 2015-2019) depicts an alternate history where the Axis powers won World War II, and the United States is under Nazi control, leading to frequent use of the term in dialogue and setting descriptions.
Video Games: In the Wolfenstein video game series (e.g., Wolfenstein: The New Order, May 2014), players battle against a fictionalized version of the Nazi regime that won World War II, making "Nazi" a central descriptor for enemies and their organization.
Music: The Dead Kennedys' song "Nazi Punks Fuck Off!" (1981) directly condemns individuals adopting Nazi imagery or ideology within the punk subculture.
General Public Discourse:
"Some critics argue that certain political rhetoric today echoes tactics used by the Nazi party in the 1930s, particularly in its demonization of minority groups." (Commentary on a news discussion forum, March 2025)
"He called anyone who disagreed with his strict interpretation of the rules a 'grammar Nazi.'" (Informal conversation, July 2025)
"The museum exhibition provides a stark reminder of the atrocities committed by the Nazis." (Visitor at a historical museum, May 2025)
10 Famous Quotes Using Nazi
"Nice people made the best Nazis. My mom grew up next to them." (Naomi Shulman, Goodreads)
"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." (Martin Niemöller, Holocaust Encyclopedia)
"Unless a man has talents to make something of himself, freedom is an irksome burden. Of what avail is freedom to choose if the self be ineffectual? We join a mass movement to escape individual responsibility, or, in the words of the ardent young Nazi, 'to be free from freedom.'" (Eric Hoffer, The True Believer, 1951)
"I too entered the Lager as a nonbeliever, and as a nonbeliever I was liberated and have lived to this day." (Primo Levi, The Drowned and the Saved, 1986)
"The Circus-Circus is what the whole hep world would be doing Saturday night if the Nazis had won the war. This is the sixth Reich." (Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 1971)
"The Germans must bear responsibility. But responsibility is not the same as guilt. Those who do not feel guilty and are not guilty of the Nazi crimes nevertheless cannot escape the consequences of a policy, which a far too large part of the German people had willingly joined." (Willy Brandt, Criminals and the Other Germans, 1946)
"We need partners. We cannot fight against the neo-Nazis alone. We need friends." (Simon Wiesenthal, Baltimore Jewish Times, April 1981)
"Hitler has made it clear that he will annihilate all Jews before the clock strikes twelve." (Elie Wiesel, Night, 1960)
"When I use the word Nazi I mean it as a term of intellectual opprobrium. I am not suggesting that Donald Trump is literally a genocidal fascist." (Milo Yiannopoulos, Dangerous, March 2017)
"The human race is unimportant. It is the self that must not be betrayed." (Unattributed in Goodreads)
Etymology
The word "Nazi" is a shortened version of "Nationalsozialist," which is German for "National Socialist." This term referred to a member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, or NSDAP), led by Adolf Hitler.
Interestingly, the word "Nazi" wasn't originally created by the party members themselves. It was primarily used by their political opponents, particularly in the German labor movement during the 1920s, as a derogatory nickname.
Before the rise of the NSDAP, the word "Nazi" (or "Naczi") was a common, somewhat mocking nickname for the German male name "Ignatz" (a variation of Ignatius). "Ignatz" was a popular name in Bavaria, the region where the NSDAP started. In some informal uses, "Nazi" was even used to describe a clumsy, awkward, or simple country person, a "yokel." So, opponents used this existing, mildly insulting term to associate the National Socialists with something foolish or backward.
The first known use of "Nazi" in English, referring to the political party, appeared around 1930 in publications like The Times (London). While the party members themselves preferred to be called "National Socialists," German exiles living outside Germany after the NSDAP came to power helped popularize "Nazi" and terms like "Nazi Germany" in other languages. After World War II, the word became widely accepted even within Germany to refer to Hitler's regime and its followers.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Nazi
Grammar Nazi: (Informal, often humorous) A person who is overly pedantic about grammar and points out grammatical errors in others' speech or writing.
Fashion Nazi: (Informal, often humorous) Someone who is extremely critical or prescriptive about fashion choices, often dictating what others should or shouldn't wear.
Soup Nazi: (From the TV show Seinfeld) A character type or a person who is extremely strict and demanding in their rules, especially in a service setting, often to the point of being tyrannical.
Health Nazi: (Informal, often humorous or critical) Someone who is excessively strict about health, diet, or fitness rules, sometimes imposing them on others.
Control freak/tyrant: (Using a synonym) Describes someone who needs to control every aspect of a situation or other people.
Dictatorial rule/regime: (Using a synonym) Refers to a system of government or management that is oppressive and allows no dissent.
Iron fist: (Idiom using a similar concept) To rule or control with absolute authority and severity.
Authoritarian tendencies: (Phrase using a similar concept) Describes a person or system that favors strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.
Totalitarian mindset: (Phrase using a similar concept) Refers to a way of thinking that seeks absolute control over all aspects of public and private life.
Bigoted rhetoric: (Phrase using a similar concept) Speech that is intolerant or prejudiced against a particular group.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of Nazi from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
