Fascism

Pronunciation

• enPR: făsh'Ä­z(É™)m, IPA: /ˈfæʃɪz(É™)m/

Origin

From Italian fascismo, from fascio ("bundle, fasces"), from Latin fasces, plural of fascis

Full definition of fascism

Noun

1. (historical) A political regime, having totalitarian aspirations, ideologically based on a relationship between business and the centralized government, business-and-government control of the market place, repression of criticism or opposition, a leader cult and exalting the state and/or religion above individual rights. Originally only applied (usually capitalized) to Benito Mussolini's Italy.
2. By vague analogy, any system of strong autocracy or oligarchy usually to the extent of bending and breaking the law, race-baiting and violence against largely unarmed populations.

Derived terms

• fascist, fascistic, fascistically
• fascistoid
• anti-fascism
• Islamofascism, Islamic fascism
• neofascism
• technofascism

Antonyms

• Anti-fascism