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

Two of those also included photos of switches that had swastika designs. —Anna Schecter, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2024

Allen has asserted in court filings that civil-rights statutes don’t apply to the incident, because a Patriot Front logo does not convey the same threat of violence that a burning cross or a swastika does. —David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2024

That’s because advertisers don’t want their ads to appear next to a burning cross or a swastika. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 12 Aug. 2024

In August, a small group of people marched downtown during a jazz and blues festival, holding swastika flags. —David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2024

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"