fascism

[ fash-iz-uh m ]
/ ˈfæʃ ɪz əm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR fascism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
(sometimes initial capital letter) the philosophy, principles, or methods of fascism.
(initial capital letter) a political movement that employs the principles and methods of fascism, especially the one established by Mussolini in Italy 1922–43.

Origin of fascism

1915–20; < Italian fascismo, equivalent to fasc(io) bundle, political group (see fasces) + -ismo -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM fascism

an·ti·fas·cism, noun pro·fas·cism, noun

Words nearby fascism

fasciolopsiasis, fasciolopsis, fascioplasty, fasciorrhaphy, fasciotomy, fascism, fascist, fascista, fascistize, fasd, fash

Words related to fascism

absolutism, regimentation, autocracy, bureaucracy, racism, authoritarianism, despotism, totalitarianism, Nazism

Example sentences from the Web for fascism

British Dictionary definitions for fascism (1 of 2)

fascism
/ (ˈfæʃɪzəm) /

noun (sometimes capital)

any ideology or movement inspired by Italian Fascism, such as German National Socialism; any right-wing nationalist ideology or movement with an authoritarian and hierarchical structure that is fundamentally opposed to democracy and liberalism
any ideology, movement, programme, tendency, etc, that may be characterized as right-wing, chauvinist, authoritarian, etc
prejudice in relation to the subject specified body fascism

Word Origin for fascism

C20: from Italian fascismo, from fascio political group, from Latin fascis bundle; see fasces

British Dictionary definitions for fascism (2 of 2)

Fascism
/ (ˈfæʃɪzəm) /

noun

the political movement, doctrine, system, or regime of Benito Mussolini in Italy, which encouraged militarism and nationalism, organizing the country along hierarchical authoritarian lines

Cultural definitions for fascism

fascism
[ (fash-iz-uhm) ]

A system of government that flourished in Europe from the 1920s to the end of World War II. Germany under Adolf Hitler, Italy under Mussolini, and Spain under Franco were all fascist states. As a rule, fascist governments are dominated by a dictator, who usually possesses a magnetic personality, wears a showy uniform, and rallies his followers by mass parades; appeals to strident nationalism; and promotes suspicion or hatred of both foreigners and “impure” people within his own nation, such as the Jews (see also Jews) in Germany. Although both communism and fascism are forms of totalitarianism, fascism does not demand state ownership of the means of production, nor is fascism committed to the achievement of economic equality. In theory, communism opposes the identification of government with a single charismatic leader (the “cult of personality”), which is the cornerstone of fascism. Whereas communists are considered left-wing, fascists are usually described as right-wing.

notes for fascism

Today, the term fascist is used loosely to refer to military dictatorships, as well as governments or individuals that profess racism and that act in an arbitrary, high-handed manner.