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

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, a group of students formed a swastika with their bodies on the school's football field. —Tim Fang, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2025

In the weeks before October 7th, a swastika was drawn in a room on campus. —Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

As the duo laughed and praised each other, Trump himself avoided discussion of his potential $1 billion-plus lawsuit against the BBC and reports that the Coast Guard will no longer view swastika flags as hateful. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2025

The black silhouette of a swastika was unmistakable. —Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 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"