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

Portofiro and the baroque universe surrounding it—communists on-world, techno-fascists offplanet, and all manner of augmentoids and spooks in the immaterial planes between—can make for a dizzying read. — Alex James Kane, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

To make matters worse, Sidious took Maul under his wing as his apprentice at a very young age (how young depends on the story being told), teaching him all about the dark side of the Force and how to become a fascist in 10 easy steps. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 19 May 2026

Fascists haven’t gone away in the world. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 May 2026

But right now Congress is being run by power-hungry fascists. — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

Trump’s second term has proved so radical that officials from his first Administration—including a former chief of staff and a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—have referred to him as a fascist. — Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

In other words, the fascists told a more riveting story. — Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 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

And amidst the momentum of reverie, there’s the line ‘Blink at the light and hope to survive,’ because daydreams in a fascist state can be scary too. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 23 June 2026

Not drinking seemed to me synonymous with a hatred of pleasure, a fascist quest for purity. — Sarah Miller, New Yorker, 20 June 2026

Italy’s triumph over Czechoslovakia in the 1934 final which strengthened the regime of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, for example. — Will Jeanes, New York Times, 20 June 2026

Jasper is a sexist fascist drunk on his own power. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 June 2026

The Italian team performed fascist salutes at its matches, including in the final against Czechoslovakia. — Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026

The daughter of Albert I, the King of Belgium, Maria José married Italy’s Prince Umberto II, whose father, King Vittorio Emanuele III, cooperated with fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 17 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