swastika

noun

swas·​ti·​ka ˈswä-sti-kə 

 also  swä-ˈstē-

1

: a symbol or ornament in the form of a Greek cross with the ends of the arms extended at right angles all in the same rotary direction

2

: a swastika used as a symbol of anti-Semitism or of Nazism

Examples of swastika in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition, antisemitic symbols and imagery were widely circulated at Harvard, including images depicting a dollar sign inside a Star of David and stickers showing an Israeli flag altered with a swastika. —Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

Photos captured a red Nazi flag emblazoned with a black swastika, pro-Nazism literature and artwork depicting Adolf Hitler. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2025

Jewish businesses and homes vandalized with red triangles, swastikas, or political slogans. —Jonathan Greenblatt, Time, 23 May 2025

Spitzer previously criticized the sentencing, saying Mayfield was a dangerous racist who had a swastika and SS bolt tattoos. —Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 24 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit svastika, from svasti well-being, from su- well + as- to be; akin to Sanskrit asti he is, Old English is; from its being regarded as a good luck symbol

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

swastika

noun

swas·​ti·​ka ˈswäs-ti-kə 

 also  swä-ˈstē-kə

: a symbol in the form of a cross with the ends of the arms bent at right angles all in the same direction

Etymology

from a word in Sanskrit (the ancient language of India) svastika "a symbol in the form of a cross with bent arms," from svasti "well-being"