swastika

American  

[swos-ti-kuh, swas-] / ˈswɒs tɪ kə, ˈswæs- /

noun

• swastikas
  plural

1. a figure used as a symbol or an ornament in the Old World and in America since prehistoric times, consisting of a cross with arms of equal length, each arm having a continuation at right angles.

2. this figure as the official emblem of the Nazi party and the Third Reich.

---

swastika British  

/ ˈswɒstɪkə /

noun

1. a primitive religious symbol or ornament in the shape of a Greek cross, usually having the ends of the arms bent at right angles in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction

2. this symbol with clockwise arms, officially adopted in 1935 as the emblem of Nazi Germany

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• swastikaed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• swastikas
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of swastika

1850–55; < Sanskrit svastika, equivalent to su- good, well (cognate with Greek eu- eu- ) + as- be ( see is) + -ti- abstract noun suffix + -ka secondary noun suffix

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

swastika swastikas

Plans changed frequently during filming, including when a London suburb’s council objected to swastika flags being hung on their town hall, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

In February last year, West started selling swastika T-shirts, prompting the commerce platform Shopify to take down his web store.

From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2026

Rep. Dave Taylor responded to reports that a flag bearing a swastika was spotted in his office on Wednesday, calling it “vile and deeply inappropriate.”

From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2025

For example, the swastika can be merely a benign ancient Hindu symbol.

From Slate ● May 28, 2024

That's consistent with when the first swastika was reported found.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Julie Menin, speaker of the New York City Council, wrote on social media that "multiple synagogues and private homes in Queens were vandalized overnight with swastikas and other antisemitic graffiti."

From Barron's ● May 4, 2026

The Coast Guard had signed off on a policy on November 13 that downgraded the classification of symbols such as swastikas and nooses, according to a report from the Washington Post.

From Salon ● Nov. 21, 2025

The idea was the result of Greek-German cooperation ahead of the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany, which were heavy on fanfare — and swastikas.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 15, 2024

In the video, the family is seen taking a bucket of chalk to draw over the swastikas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2024

They say it’s the perfect response to the swastikas in our school.

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---