Today’s word comes from the news.

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Today’s Word

Part of Speech

noun

Definition

1. A political philosophy, movement, or regime (such 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 political movement that employs the principles and methods of fascism, especially the one established by Mussolini in Italy 1922–43.
3. A set of right-wing political beliefs that includes strong control of society and the economy by the state, a powerful role for the armed forces, and the stopping of political opposition.

History

The English words fascism and fascist are borrowings from Italian fascismo and fascista, derivatives of fascio (plural fasci), “bundle, fasces, group.” Fascista was first used in 1914 to refer to members of a fascio, or political group. In 1919, fascista was applied to the black-shirted members of Benito Mussolini’s organization, the Fasci di combattimento (“combat groups”), who seized power in Italy in 1922. Playing on the word fascista, Mussolini’s party adopted the fasces, a bundle of rods with an ax among them, as a symbol of the Italian people united and obedient to the single authority of the state. The English word fascist was first used for members of Mussolini’s fascisti, but it has since been generalized to those of similar beliefs.

~fascism

Synonyms

authoritarianism, dictatorship, totalitarianism

Antonyms

democracy, freedom, autonomy

Usage and Examples

Here are a couple of examples:

• Jack Duncan used the rise in fascism to exploit the disorganization caused by our enemies.
• Dehumanizing and creating the impression that people of color are to be alienated is a tactic of radicalism and the lackeys of fascism.

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