holocaust

hol-o-caust · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Destruction or slaughter on a mass scale, especially by fire or nuclear war.

  2. 2.

    (the Holocaust) The systematic mass murder of Jews and other groups by the Nazi regime during World War II.

Forms

plural: holocausts

Related words

See also: atrocity, genocide, persecution
Synonyms: annihilation, genocide, massacre

Etymology

From Greek holokauston, from holos (whole) + kaustos (burnt), originally referring to a burnt sacrificial offering.