holocaust

holocaust — noun

1. the systematic murder of about six million Jewish civilians and millions of othe

1.名詞B2
釋義

the systematic murder of about six million Jewish civilians and millions of others that Nazi Germany carried out between 1941 and 1945

例句

The Holocaust took the lives of about six million Jewish people during World War II.

proper noun: the Holocaust (always capitalised)

Omar's great-grandparents survived the Holocaust and moved to South America after the war.

collocation: survived the Holocaust

同義詞
  • genocide

    broader term for any intentional destruction of a people; the Holocaust is a specific instance

  • Shoah

    Hebrew term for the Holocaust; used in Jewish communities

文法句型

the + Holocaust

用法筆記

Always written with a capital H when referring to the Nazi genocide. Using the lowercase form 'holocaust' for other tragedies may be seen as diminishing the uniqueness of this historical event.

常見錯誤

❌The holocaust was a terrible event.
✅The Holocaust was a terrible event.
💡The historical event must be capitalised.
❌That war was also a holocaust.
✅That war also caused tremendous suffering.
💡Referring to other events as 'a holocaust' can be seen as insensitive.

2. an event in which war, fire, or other extreme forces kill a huge number of peopl

2.名詞C1
釋義

an event in which war, fire, or other extreme forces kill a huge number of people and destroy the area around them

例句

A nuclear holocaust would destroy human civilisation across the entire planet.

collocation: nuclear holocaust

Historians described the firebombing as a holocaust that consumed the whole district.

passive: described as a holocaust

同義詞
  • catastrophe

    broader term for any sudden disaster; does not always involve mass death

  • genocide

    specific to the targeted killing of a national or ethnic group

  • carnage

    focuses on bloody killing of many people; less emphasis on destruction of property

文法句型

a(n) + [modifier] + holocaust

nuclear holocaust

用法筆記

Less common in everyday speech than words like 'disaster' or 'catastrophe'. Typically used with a modifier (nuclear holocaust, fire holocaust) and carries a tone of irreversible ruin.

常見錯誤

❌The earthquake was a holocaust that damaged many buildings.
✅The earthquake was a catastrophe that damaged many buildings.
💡'holocaust' implies mass death and total destruction, not just damage.
❌My exam was a holocaust.
✅My exam was a disaster.
💡Using 'holocaust' for everyday problems is inappropriate and can offend.