gulag

[goo-lahg]

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter)

1. the system of forced-labor camps in the Soviet Union.

2. a Soviet forced-labor camp.

3. any prison or detention camp, especially for political prisoners.

Gulag

/ ˈɡuːlæɡ /

noun

1. (formerly) the central administrative department of the Soviet security service, established in 1930, responsible for maintaining prisons and forced labour camps

2. (not capital) any system used to silence dissents

gulag

1. A system of prison camps inside the former Soviet Union used for political prisoners. Under Joseph Stalin, millions of prisoners in these camps died from starvation and maltreatment. This system was given worldwide attention in the writings of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Gulag is an acronym in Russian of the name meaning Chief Administration of Corrective Labor Camps.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gulag¹

1970–75; < Russian Gulág, acronym from Glávnoe upravlénie ispravítelʾno-trudovýkh lageréĭ Main Directorate of Corrective Labor Camps

Word History and Origins

Origin of gulag¹

C20: from Russian G ( lavnoye ) U ( pravleniye Ispravitelno-Trudovykh ) Lag ( erei ) Main Administration for Corrective Labour Camps

Example Sentences

In the Soviet Union, jokes about Joseph Stalin or the Communist Party were treated as serious crimes against the state, warranting time in the gulag.

From Los Angeles Times

They are deporting people to foreign gulags and countries with which they have no connection, family, money or support.

From Salon

He has ordered hundreds of people to be deprived of liberty in a foreign gulag, without charge or trial, and his administration is illegally impounding funds authorized by Congress.

From Salon

El Salvador’s prisons are being used as gulags by the current administration.

From Los Angeles Times

In plain English, they must be allowed a hearing before they can be kidnapped and sent to the gulag.

From Salon

Related Words

• gas chamber 
• internment camp 
• prison camp