# Reich

/ˈɹaɪk/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. the Nazi regime

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a name for Germany during the time it was ruled by the Nazi party (1933–1945).

For teachers: a designation for the German state during the National Socialist era, specifically referred to as the Third Reich.

- Many history books focus on the fall of the Reich at the end of the war.
- The documentary examines the internal power struggles that plagued the Reich during the final months of the conflict in Europe.

Usage: Usually capitalized when referring to the specific historical period.

### 2. a German empire

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

a German empire or kingdom from history.

For teachers: any of the historical German empires, such as the Holy Roman Empire or the German Empire of 1871–1918.

- Historians often compare the first German Reich to the second one.
- The transition from a collection of small states to a unified Reich changed the balance of power in nineteenth-century Europe.

Usage: Primarily used in historical and academic contexts.

### 3. a tyrannical system

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Slang

a word used to describe a government or organization that is very cruel, controlling, or racist.

For teachers: a derogatory term for an imperialist, tyrannical, or authoritarian regime or organization.

- The protesters compared the new corporate rules to a cruel reich.
- Critics of the administration's new surveillance policy described the agency as a digital reich that ignored personal privacy.

Teaching tip: This usage is highly provocative and often offensive because it draws a direct parallel to Nazi Germany; use with extreme caution.

## Examples

- Historians study the rise and fall of the third reich.

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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.