Dictionary

fascism

noun fas·cism \ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm also ˈfa-ˌsi-\

: a way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government

: very harsh control or authority

Full Definition of FASCISM

1
often capitalized :  a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2
:  a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control <early instances of army fascism and brutality — J. W. Aldridge>
fas·cist \-shist also -sist\ noun or adjective often capitalized
fas·cis·tic \fa-ˈshis-tik also -ˈsis-\ adjective often capitalized
fas·cis·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb often capitalized
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Examples of FASCISM

  1. From the first hours of Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union, the propagandists on both sides of the conflict portrayed the struggle in stark, Manichaean language. The totalitarian nature of both regimes made this inevitable. On one side stood Hitler, fascism, the myth of German supremacy; on the other side stood Stalin, communism, and the international proletarian revolution. —Anne Applebaum, New York Review of Books, 25 Oct. 2007

Origin of FASCISM

Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
First Known Use: 1921

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism
FASCISM Defined for Kids

fascism

noun , fas·cism often cap \ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm\

Definition of FASCISM for Kids

:  a political system headed by a dictator in which the government controls business and labor and opposition is not permitted

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