swastika

[swos-ti-kuh, swas-]

noun

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

/ 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

• swastikaed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swastika¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of swastika¹

C19: from Sanskrit svastika, from svasti prosperity; from the belief that it brings good luck

Example Sentences

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.

Read more on Salon

The hate hits closer to home when a swastika and antisemitic hashtag is scrawled on Theo’s athletic room locker — leading his younger sister to assume a secret online identity to get justice.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Cars, walls and postboxes were defaced, sometimes with swastikas, they said in a statement.

Read more on BBC

In April, former officers Cody Weldin and Christopher Tomsic each pleaded guilty to felony vandalism for spray painting a swastika inside of a vehicle that had been towed from a crime scene.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In particular, the swastika on his chest and the social media photos showing him giving a Nazi salute and wearing a t-shirt that claimed Hitler "was right".

Read more on BBC