holocaust

noun

ho·​lo·​caust ˈhō-lə-ˌkȯst 

ˈhä-

also -ˌkäst

or ˈhȯ-lə-kȯst

1

: a sacrifice (see sacrifice entry 1 sense 2b) 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

Synonyms of holocaust

• inferno
• fire

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

Zbur said this while in the presence of a descendant of a holocaust survivor, who had to excuse herself from the chamber, according to GOP Assembly member Kate Sanchez. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025

Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins lead the cast of the action-comedy, which tracks a motley crew of survivors in a dangerous, post-apocalyptic wasteland centuries after a nuclear holocaust. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Dec. 2025

Hours earlier, two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah by the Sea celebration near Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, killing at least 16 people including a rabbi and a holocaust survivor. —Hannah Ruhoff, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025

But the graphic visions of nuclear holocaust in those films conjured no more dread than the explosion of the Death Star. —Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025

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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for holocaust

• permafrost
• accost
• crisscrossed
• defrost
• embossed
• exhaust
• recrossed
• uncrossed
• bossed
• cost
• crossed
• dost

Kids Definition

holocaust

noun

ho·​lo·​caust ˈhō-lə-ˌkȯst 

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

: genocide