fascist

1 of 2

noun

fas·​cist ˈfa-shist 

also ˈfa-sist

plural fascists

1

or Fascist plural Fascists : a person who advocates or works to further the aims of fascism : an adherent of or participant in a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and forcible suppression of opposition

Dogmatism inevitably leads not to utopia, as Marxists and fascists alike have claimed, but to totalitarian repression.

—John Horgan

The continual strikes staged by the Socialists and Communists in 1919 and 1920 paved the way for the Fascists.

—Alexander Stille

2

: a person who exercises or attempts to exercise strong dictatorial control over others

—often used informally in an exaggerated way

For, as with school-children, there is something of the fascist in most office workers: they glorify order and the discipline that enforces it, even when that discipline is arbitrarily or unjustly meted out.

—Mark Jones

Just as there are food fascists who would outlaw french fries and force everyone to breakfast on bran muffins, there are fishing fascists who despise the use of live bait.

—George Will

fascist

2 of 2

adjective

1

or Fascist : advocating or working to further the aims of fascism

a fascist leader/state

fascist movements

For those too young to get the reference, Vichy was the collaborationist regime that governed occupied France during World War II—fascist Frenchmen who did the dirty work for the Germans.

—William Greider

2

: exercising or attempting to exercise dictatorial control over others : behaving in an oppressive and intolerant manner

… they argued that if behavior modification were to work on humans, it would be a morally repugnant and even fascist method of forcing people to toe an official line.

—David H. Freedman

3

: expressing or demonstrating support for fascism

a fascist salute

fascist rhetoric

Examples of fascist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here is a film where fascists literally organize a soccer game for propaganda purposes, hoping to stage a sportsman-like event that will soften the public perception of their brutal regime. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 19 June 2026

The film will provide an opportunity for Italians to revisit their fascist past through the unique lens of a non-Italian woman chosen by fate to briefly serve as the country’s last queen. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 17 June 2026

Adjective

Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini did so when Italy hosted the 1934 World Cup, manipulating the games and handpicking officials to boost the chances for the home team, who went on to beat democratic Czechoslovakia in the final. — John A. Tures, The Conversation, 26 June 2026

Italy’s wartime fascist dictator Benito Mussolini was imprisoned here in July 1943 after he was overthrown and arrested. — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 24 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Italian fascista, from fascio "bundle, group" + -ista -ist entry 1 — more at fascism

Adjective

derivative of fascist entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fascist

• anti-fascist
• pre-fascist

Rhymes for fascist

• antifascist