Prussianism

American

[pruhsh-uh-niz-uhm] / ˈprʌʃ əˌnɪz əm /

noun

the militaristic spirit, system, policy, or methods historically associated with the Prussians.

Prussianism British

/ ˈprʌʃəˌnɪzəm /

noun

the ethos of the Prussian state and aristocracy, esp militarism and stern discipline

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Prussianism

First recorded in 1855–60; Prussian + -ism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Prussianism

He has no doubt that "Hitler indeed imposed Prussianism on us, but he was dead when he did it."

From Time Magazine Archive

For a time they watched with admiration the new Prussianism of Adolf Hitler.

From Time Magazine Archive

One German, and one only, was in the room: Ludwig van Beethoven, who hated Prussianism and wrote the music.

From Time Magazine Archive

As West Germany's Minister of Defense, beefy, hard-driving Franz Josef Strauss has been a vigorous foe of Prussianism.

From Time Magazine Archive

And it was only the other day that a lady wrote me saying that when I preach against Prussianism in schools I am merely resuscitating a dead bogey for the purpose of knocking it down.

From A Dominie in Doubt by Alexander Sutherland Neill

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023