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

Mousa is charged with two counts of felony vandalism with hate crime enhancements, two counts of felony vandalism of a place of worship with hate crime enhancements, felony placement of a swastika and one misdemeanor vandalism count. —Bay City News Service, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026

Displaying the swastika in Germany is unillegal, punishable by fines or up to three years in prison. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026

Then in January 2023, someone used a projector to put a large image of a Nazi swastika on the side of the CSX headquarters building on the Northbank Riverwalk. —Beth Reese Cravey, Florida Times-Union, 24 Feb. 2026

And in a third incident in western Connecticut, Sobel said a 15-year old found a swastika etched into his locker. —Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026

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"