gestapo
gestapo Lexical Profile
gestapo Game Scores & Validity
• noun
(usually capitalized) The official secret police force of Nazi Germany and German-occupied Europe, notorious for its brutal suppression of political opposition and central role in the Holocaust.
"During the occupation, members of the underground resistance lived in constant fear of being discovered by the Gestapo."
(often lowercase) Any police force, security agency, or authority figure perceived as operating with ruthless, tyrannical, or oppressive methods.
"Critics accused the company's overly aggressive internal compliance team of acting like a corporate gestapo."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the historical secret police of Nazi Germany, the word is capitalized as 'Gestapo'; in lower case, it is used figuratively and pejoratively to describe any ruthlessly authoritarian enforcement group.
• Rhymes for gestapo
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from German Gestapo, an acronym formed from Geheime Staatspolizei ('Secret State Police'), which was established in 1933 in Prussia by Hermann Göring.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.