Gestapo

[ guh-stah-poh; German guh-shtah-poh ]

noun

1. the German state secret police during the Nazi regime, organized in 1933 and notorious for its brutal methods and operations.

adjective

1. (sometimes lowercase) of or resembling the Nazi Gestapo, especially in the brutal suppression of opposition:

   The new regime is using gestapo tactics.

Gestapo

/ ɡɛˈstɑːpəʊ; ɡeˈʃtaːpo /

noun

1. the secret state police in Nazi Germany, noted for its brutal methods of interrogation

Gestapo

1. The secret police of the Third Reich in Germany . The Gestapo operated against Germans suspected of treason by using brutal interrogation and torture; they instilled widespread fear by their terrorist methods.

Notes

Figuratively, any brutal secret police organization may be called a “gestapo.”

“Gestapo tactics” in general are intimidating official procedures.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gestapo¹

< German Ge ( heime ) Sta ( ats ) po ( lizei )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Gestapo¹

from German Ge ( heime ) Sta ( ats ) po ( lizei ), literally: secret state police

Example Sentences

Once war broke out, an Anglican church with a British caretaker attracted numerous visits from the Gestapo.

From BBC

In May 1942 her network was infiltrated by the Nazis and soon Gestapo officers were in hot pursuit.

From BBC

There, Trump lied, of course, and claimed that President Biden leads a “Gestapo” that he is using to persecute his supposed enemies.

From Salon

Earlier this month, Trump said at a fundraiser that Biden is running a “Gestapo administration,” referring to the secret Nazi police force.

From Seattle Times

He said privately to one of his defense attorneys, who immediately dropped him, that he wants to use the FBI as the Gestapo.

From Salon