holocaust

noun

ho·​lo·​caust ˈhō-lə-ˌkȯst How to pronounce holocaust (audio)
ˈhä-,
 also  -ˌkäst,
 or  ˈhȯ-lə-kȯst
1
: a sacrifice (see sacrifice entry 1 sense 2) consumed by fire
2
: a thorough destruction involving extensive loss of life especially through fire
a nuclear holocaust
3
a
usually the Holocaust : the mass slaughter of European civilians and especially Jews by the Nazis during World War II
Several members of her family died in the Holocaust.
a Holocaust survivor
b
: a mass slaughter of people
especially : genocide
a holocaust in Rwanda

Examples of holocaust in a Sentence

The museum is devoted to the Holocaust. There were fears of a nuclear holocaust.
Recent Examples on the Web The three filmmakers operated independently of one another, each driven by personal reasons to contemplate the unimaginable at a time when a standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union made nuclear holocaust seem inevitable. Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2023 Moore asked the audience, which included Oscar-winning documentary filmmakers Laura Poitras, Roger Ross Williams and Errol Morris, to take a moment of silence and pledge to make sure the holocaust never happens again. Addie Morfoot, Variety, 8 Nov. 2023 One wonders what those worthless nincompoops would have done during the Nazi holocaust that murdered upward of seven million Jews, and over seven million more victims besides. Noah Rothman, National Review, 26 Oct. 2023 Nuclear dread and resistance was being replaced by passive acceptance of potential atomic holocaust. WIRED, 22 Oct. 2023 In the film, where Peter Sellers plays several roles, an insane American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Sep. 2023 Before his duplicity can produce the kind of frank discussion that might deepen their relationship, NOMAD shows up, Maya disappears and there’s nothing for Joshua to do but go back to L.A. and lament the dearth of good sushi restaurants in the wake of a nuclear holocaust. Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2023 Social studies teacher Jeremy Brown teaches a class about holocausts and genocides at Oakman High School in Walker County. Alaina Bookman | Abookman@al.com, al, 15 Sep. 2023 That correction could, according to his paper, drop the population to no more than 3 billion and as few as 100 million—all barring, of course, a nuclear holocaust that could bring even more catastrophic consequences. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 21 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holocaust.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin holocaustum, from Greek holokauston, from neuter of holokaustos burnt whole, from hol- + kaustos burnt, from kaiein to burn — more at caustic

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of holocaust was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near holocaust

Cite this Entry

“Holocaust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holocaust. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

holocaust

noun
ho·​lo·​caust ˈhō-lə-ˌkȯst How to pronounce holocaust (audio)
ˈhäl-ə-,
 also  -ˌkäst,
 or  ˈhȯ-lə-ˌkȯst
1
: a sacrifice destroyed by fire
2
: a thorough destruction especially by fire
3
a
often capitalized : the killing of European civilians and especially Jews by the Nazis during World War II
b

More from Merriam-Webster on holocaust

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