nazi
nazi — noun
1. someone who belonged to the political party Adolf Hitler led — the party that to
someone who belonged to the political party Adolf Hitler led — the party that took over Germany in 1933 and began the Second World War.
Mira's grandfather was forced to fight as a Nazi soldier during the war.
countable: a Nazi + role noun (soldier)
The Nazi party won enough votes to become the largest group in the German parliament.
the Nazi party — historical political entity
After the war ended, many former Nazis faced trials for their crimes.
Historians still study how ordinary citizens became supporters of the Nazi movement.
- fascist
broader term for anyone who supports a far-right authoritarian system; not limited to the German Nazi party
- brownshirt
historical term for a member of the Nazi paramilitary group (the SA); less common today
- Hitler supporter
descriptive phrase rather than a single word; emphasises loyalty to the leader
- anti-fascist
a person who actively opposes fascism or Nazism
文法句型
a Nazi
the Nazis
用法筆記
This sense is typically capitalised (Nazi) because it refers to a specific political party. The word is a shortened form of the German Nationalsozialist.
常見錯誤
2. an insulting term for someone who behaves in a harshly demanding or cruel way, o
an insulting term for someone who behaves in a harshly demanding or cruel way, or who holds deeply prejudiced beliefs, especially about race.
Reuben's supervisor is a nazi about punctuality — even one minute late counts as a problem.
figurative: a nazi about [domain] — informal
The coach was a total nazi who made players run extra laps for any mistake.
Some online groups use the term grammar nazi for people who harshly correct others' writing.
When Omar reminded his office mates to sort recycling, someone called him a recycling nazi.
- tyrant
focuses on cruel and oppressive use of power, without the racist connotation
- dictator
someone who demands total obedience, but usually refers to political leaders
- bigot
emphasises unreasonable, prejudiced beliefs about race or religion
- martinet
a person who demands strict adherence to rules; less offensive and more formal
- liberal
a person open to new ideas and tolerant of others' views
文法句型
a [domain] nazi
a nazi about [something]
用法筆記
This extended sense is usually written in lowercase. It can cause offence because it trivialises the historical atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. Common in fixed compound phrases such as grammar nazi, health nazi, or fashion nazi.
常見錯誤
nazi — adjective
1. relating to the political party led by Adolf Hitler that ruled Germany from 1933
relating to the political party led by Adolf Hitler that ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945, or to the government, laws, and armed forces of that period.
Isabela found an old book of Nazi propaganda in her grandmother's attic.
attributive: Nazi propaganda
The museum exhibit shows how Nazi ideology was taught to children in German schools.
Many countries still have laws against displaying Nazi symbols in public.
Élise wrote her thesis on how Nazi architecture spread political messages through building design.
- Hitler-era
describes the same historical period without using the word Nazi
- National Socialist
the formal name of the party; less common in everyday English
- fascist
broader term for far-right authoritarian systems, not limited to Germany
- anti-Nazi
opposed to or fighting against the Nazi regime
文法句型
Nazi + noun (regime, flag, salute, ideology)
用法筆記
This adjective is always capitalised and used only in historical context. It cannot be used figuratively in the same way the noun sense 2 can — there is no adjective sense for 'cruel' or 'extremist'.