gestapo

noun

ge·​sta·​po gə-ˈstä-(ˌ)pō 

plural gestapos

: a secret-police organization employing underhanded and terrorist methods against persons suspected of disloyalty

Examples of gestapo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If the prisoners are transferred to Adolf Hitler’s gestapo, World War II — and the fate of Western civilization — could be hanging in the balance. —Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 12 Oct. 2024

He was assigned to the isis secret police—the caliphate’s gestapo—and tasked with arresting his former pro-democracy allies. —Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

There are some remarkable performances, including an unforgettable portrayal by British actor Clifford Rose, who plays the ruthless and effective local gestapo chief Sturmbannführer Ludwig Kessler. —The Editors, Outside Online, 4 Apr. 2020

His mother had fed some of the 500 Russian prisoners in the town and so was taken away by the gestapo. —Brendan Leonard, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2020

Cuba’s primal scream for liberty on July 11 has gone viral and exposed the grisly methods used by Cuba’s gestapo to keep the lid on dissent. —Mary Anastasia O’Grady, WSJ, 25 July 2021

They’ve been smeared as the ‘gestapo’ for doing their jobs. —John Haughey, Washington Examiner, 14 Dec. 2020

Kim denies that his work today is repentance for past sins as a member of Kim Jong-il’s data gestapo. —Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2015

The gestapo believes the Allies have installed a spy close to Wilhelm, and Brandt is assigned the task of rooting him out. —Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 5 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

German, from Geheime Staatspolizei, literally, secret state police

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gestapo

• capo
• taupo