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

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., called the policy “absolutely horrific,” while Sen. Catherine Cortez Mastro, D-Nev., said the swastika is “a hate symbol, plain and simple.”

From Salon ● Nov. 21, 2025

Erich Lepier, one of the Pernkopf atlas illustrators, repeatedly included a swastika after the cursive R in his signature.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2024

In very rare circumstances, a German typewriter would be made with a dedicated swastika key, like this one at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

From Slate ● Mar. 16, 2024

“So what’s bugging you? I know Dad flips out when there’s swastika news, but he always calms down in the end.”

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

“He came by the office and assured us that there is an across-the-board prohibition on hate symbols, including swastikas and nooses,” Underwood said in a video on X.

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

And the ADL said swastikas were more prevalent than in previous years, with the symbols used in 792 acts of vandalism.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2023

“The whole world is helping us. And now that the swastikas are a thing of the past, there’s no downside anymore. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---