name

holocaust

HOL-uh-kawst

name

(historical, capitalised) The mass murder of around six million European Jews by Nazi Germany during World War II.

"The museum preserves the testimony of Holocaust survivors."

noun

Widespread destruction or slaughter, especially on a massive scale.

"Historians describe some famines as a slow-moving holocaust."

How to Use Holocaust

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often refers to the Nazi genocide of Jews in World War II; occasionally used generally for mass destruction, but that broader use is far less common and should be used carefully given the word's historical weight.

Common mistake

Capitalise "Holocaust" when referring specifically to the Nazi genocide; the lowercase general sense is rare and can seem insensitive if used carelessly.

Word Forms

holocausted past tense, Holocausts plural, holocausts singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “holocaust” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The museum preserves the testimony of _____ survivors.

Etymology

From Greek holókaustos, "wholly burnt," originally referring to a sacrifice completely consumed by fire before it became the standard term for the Nazi genocide.

Synonyms

View more →

Shoah the Nazi genocide

Rhymes for holocaust

Faust exhaust

See all rhymes for holocaust →

People Also Searched

Shoah the Nazi genocide