hitler

hitler — biographical name

1. the leader of the Nazi Party who became the ruler of Germany in 1933 and started

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Definition

the leader of the Nazi Party who became the ruler of Germany in 1933 and started World War II, known for ordering the murder of millions of people, especially Jewish people, during the Holocaust

Example

Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 started World War II in Europe.

possessive + historical action or policy

The political situation in Germany allowed Hitler to rise to power in the early 1930s.

collocation: rise to power

Usage Note

Often appears with historical context (rise to power, Nazi policies, World War II, the Holocaust). Using Hitler's name as a general insult for a strict or unkind person is widely considered offensive and is avoided in careful speech and writing.

Common Mistakes

Heil Hitler' (used as a casual greeting or joke).
Avoid using 'Heil Hitler' entirely
it is a phrase from the Nazi salute that is illegal in several countries and deeply offensive to many people.
My teacher is such a Hitler.
My teacher is very strict.
Using Hitler's name as a casual insult trivializes the atrocities he committed and is widely considered unacceptable.

Etymology

German

Hitler is a German surname, now almost exclusively associated with the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler (1889–1945). The original meaning of the name is uncertain, though it may be related to an old German word for 'one who lives near a heath.'