fascism

noun fas·cism \ ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm also ˈfa-ˌsi- \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Editor's Note: The Italian origin of fascism

Definition of fascism

1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition

2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control

early instances of army fascism and brutality
—J. W. Aldridge

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fascist

play \ˈfa-shist also -sist\ noun or adjective, often capitalized

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fascistic

play \fa-ˈshi-stik also -ˈsi-\ adjective, often capitalized

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fascistically

play \fa-ˈshi-sti-k(ə-)lē also -ˈsi-\ adverb, often capitalized

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Examples of fascism in a Sentence

From the first hours of Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union, the propagandists on both sides of the conflict portrayed the struggle in stark, Manichaean language. The totalitarian nature of both regimes made this inevitable. On one side stood Hitler, fascism, the myth of German supremacy; on the other side stood Stalin, communism, and the international proletarian revolution. —Anne Applebaum, New York Review of Books, 25 Oct. 2007
Consider what happened during the crisis of global fascism. At first, even the truth about Hitler was inconvenient. Many in the west hoped the danger would simply go away. —Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
He collected stories about groups similar to his—Aryans, other Nazis, the KKK. Lately, he'd been flagging many stories from Germany and Eastern Europe, and was quite thrilled with the rise of fascism there. —John Grisham, The Chamber, 1995
the rise of Fascism in Europe before World War II

Recent Examples of fascism from the Web

In 1934, Benito Mussolini’s Italy hosted the World Cup, and used it as a vehicle to promote fascism.

— ann killion, SFChronicle.com, "Shut up and dribble? Not in basketball. Certainly not in soccer," 25 June 2018
That is, these films about psychological torment, muted violence, lies, disappearance, and conspiracies, were all born, unsurprisingly, in Europe as the menace of fascism was taking hold.

— rhonda garelick, The Cut, "Melania’s Recent Behavior Is Right Out of Hitchcock," 11 June 2018
In 1939, fearing the rise of fascism under Benito Mussolini, the Mayers entered France illegally and moved to Nice to seek political asylum.

— cody boteler, baltimoresun.com, "90-year-old Holocaust survivor stresses importance of education to Catonsville Middle students," 11 June 2018
First, fascism flourishes alongside economic, social and political chaos.

— sheri berman, New York Times, "Can It Happen Here? Madeleine Albright Examines Fascism Then and Now," 20 Apr. 2018
Yes, the Italians invented fascism and joined Hitler in World War II.

— josef joffe, WSJ, "Italy’s Populist Flirtation Won’t Last," 3 June 2018
As a Holocaust survivor who had watched fascism then communism darken the world, the young Soros came of age enamored of democracy.

— trudy rubin, Philly.com, "Roseanne's other twisted tweet of the week. (The one you didn't already read about) | Trudy Rubin," 1 June 2018
If that happens, there’s no need to be precious about purity — that’s cultural fascism.

— connie wang, refinery29.com, "I’ve Written About Cultural Appropriation For 10 Years. Here’s What I Got Wrong.," 24 May 2018
Both men spoke of the rise of nationalism and fascism across Europe.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "Pomfret School Alumni Share Thoughts On Trump, Putin, Jinping," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fascism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The Italian origin of fascism

The English words fascism and fascist are borrowings from Italian fascismo and fascista, derivatives of fascio (plural fasci), “bundle, fasces, group.” Fascista was first used in 1914 to refer to members of a fascio, or political group. In 1919, fascista was applied to the black-shirted members of Benito Mussolini’s organization, the Fasci di combattimento (“combat groups”), who seized power in Italy in 1922. Playing on the word fascista, Mussolini’s party adopted the fasces, a bundle of rods with an ax among them, as a symbol of the Italian people united and obedient to the single authority of the state. The English word fascist was first used for members of Mussolini’s fascisti, but it has since been generalized to those of similar beliefs.

Origin and Etymology of fascism

Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1921

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

FASCISM Defined for English Language Learners

fascism

noun

Definition of fascism for English Language Learners

: a way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government
: very harsh control or authority