# nazi

/ˈnɑtsi/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nazi
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a member of the political party that ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945. In casual talk, people sometimes use it to describe someone who is very strict and controlling about rules.

For teachers: a member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. In a figurative and often pejorative sense, it refers to a person who is perceived as excessively authoritarian or fanatically dedicated to enforcing specific rules.

## Examples

- The history book explains how the Nazi party rose to power.
- The documentary features interviews with survivors who lived through the Nazi occupation of their home city.
- Historians continue to debate the socio-economic factors that allowed Nazi ideology to permeate the mainstream political discourse of the Weimar Republic.

## Usage notes

- When referring to the historical political party or its members, the word is always capitalized.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.