Swastika

/ˈswɒstɪkə/ name, noun

name, noun ·Moderate ·High school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A cross with arms of equal length all bent halfway along at a 90° angle to the right or to the left, used as a religious symbol by various ancient and modern civilizations, but now mainly seen and used in the West (with arms angled to the right) as a symbol of Nazism and fascism.
  • Grammar: swastika is listed as name, noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: hooked cross, sauwastika, amulet, ankh.
  • Useful contrasts: benign symbol, democratic emblem, harmless symbol.
  • Usage evidence: Layla had a swastika tattooed on her forehead.

How to use "swastika"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "swastika" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "swastika" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "swastika" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "swastika" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "swastika" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "hooked cross" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "swastika", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A cross with arms of equal length all bent halfway along at a 90° angle to the right or to the left, used as a religious symbol by various ancient and modern civilizations, but now mainly seen and used in the West (with arms angled to the right) as a symbol of Nazism and fascism. countable

    "This was signed by Dana Da, who added pentacles and pentagrams, and a crux ansata, and half-a-dozen swastikas, and a Triple Tau to his name, just to show that he was all he laid claim to be."

  2. 2
    the official emblem of the Nazi Party and the Third Reich; a cross with the arms bent at right angles in a clockwise direction wordnet
  3. 3
    Nazi rule. metonymically, uncountable

    ""Is that what you think of me? I believe in the Grail, not the Swastika!""

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A female given name from Sanskrit used in India.

Synonyms

All synonyms
hooked crosssauwastikaamuletankharmoryavellan cross

Antonyms

benign symboldemocratic emblemharmless symbolill omen

Example

"Layla had a swastika tattooed on her forehead."

Common questions

What does "swastika" mean?

A cross with arms of equal length all bent halfway along at a 90° angle to the right or to the left, used as a religious symbol by various ancient and modern civilizations, but now mainly seen and used in the West (with arms angled to the right) as a symbol of Nazism and fascism.

What is a synonym for "swastika"?

Common synonyms include: hooked cross, sauwastika, amulet, ankh, armory, avellan cross.

How do you use "swastika" in a sentence?

Layla had a swastika tattooed on her forehead.

How do you pronounce "swastika"?

Pronounced /ˈswɒstɪkə/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

Learned borrowing from Sanskrit स्वस्तिक (svastika), from सु- (su-, “good, well”) + अस्ति (asti), a verbal abstract of the root of the verb "to be", स्वस्ति (svasti) thus meaning "well-being" — and the diminutive suffix क (ka); hence "little thing associated with well-being", corresponding roughly to "lucky charm". First attestation in English in 1871, a Sanskritism that replaced the Grecian term gammadion. From 1932 onwards it often referred specifically to the version used by the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (also called the "hooked cross", or German Hakenkreuz).

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Sanskrit स्वस्तिका (svastikā).

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