pogrom

[ puh-gruhm, -grom, poh- ]

noun

1. an organized massacre, especially of Jews.

   Synonyms: butchery, slaughter

pogrom

/ ˈpɒɡrəm /

noun

1. an organized persecution or extermination of an ethnic group, esp of Jews

pogrom

1. A massacre or persecution instigated by the government or by the ruling class against a minority group, particularly Jews (see also Jews ).

Notes

Pogroms were common in Russia during the nineteenth century.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pogrom¹

1880–85; (< Yiddish ) < Russian pogróm literally, destruction, devastation (of a town, country, etc., as in war), noun derivative of pogromít’, equivalent to po- perfective prefix + gromít’ to destroy, devastate, derivative of grom thunder

Word History and Origins

Origin of pogrom¹

C20: via Yiddish from Russian: destruction, from po- like + grom thunder

Example Sentences

Modi’s ministers and legislators freely call on people to shoot “traitors” and start pogroms, and are promoted rather than penalized for their actions.

From Time

Even as the pogrom becomes common knowledge, there are many truths about it that likely won’t ever be known.

From Vox

We have, in a short period of time, experienced periodic pogroms and other political forms of death.

From Vox

We don’t like use a word pogrom unless we can use it in Africa or someplace else.

From Ozy

As of this writing, Ukraine is drawing to a close the bloodiest day of a 72-hour pogrom.

From The Daily Beast

The pro-Nazi Palestinian leader, Haj Amin al-Husseini, instigated the Farhud pogrom against the Jews of Iraq in 1941.

From The Daily Beast

Things came to a head in 1983, in a vicious anti-Tamil pogrom during which thousands of Tamils were killed by mobs.

From The Daily Beast

The Whites put up a provocateur as before a pogrom in Russia.

From Project Gutenberg

I remember a time when I thought a pogrom had broken out in our street, and I wonder that I did not die of fear.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, if you must know, I was convalescing when these same Chows started a pogrom in the next camp.

From Project Gutenberg

These gentry know well the precise points where a pogrom can most easily be started.

From Project Gutenberg

The pogrom, it seemed, had been accomplished by an energy weapon which ate great, gaping holes in the sides of buildings.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• annihilation
• bloodbath
• bloodletting
• butchery
• carnage
• extermination
• genocide