swastika

noun

swas·​ti·​ka ˈswä-sti-kə 

 also  swä-ˈstē-

1

: a symbol or ornament in the form of a Greek cross with the ends of the arms extended at right angles all in the same rotary direction

2

: a swastika used as a symbol of anti-Semitism or of Nazism

Examples of swastika in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During his meltdown last week, Ye started selling a swastika T-shirt and posted several pornographic videos to his feed. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025

Scarlett Johansson is speaking out after a deepfake video made the rounds starring her and other Jewish A-listers denouncing Kanye West’s latest antisemitic rant and sale of swastika T-shirts. —Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025

After seemingly deactivating his account, West followed up his rant with a Super Bowl commercial promoting his Yeezy website, which exclusively sold a swastika T-shirt. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 13 Feb. 2025

But only now, after West sold a T-shirt with a swastika on it and went on an antisemitic tirade on X, is Ty speaking out against his collaborator. —Justin Curto, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Sanskrit svastika, from svasti well-being, from su- well + as- to be; akin to Sanskrit asti he is, Old English is; from its being regarded as a good luck symbol

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

swastika

noun

swas·​ti·​ka ˈswäs-ti-kə 

 also  swä-ˈstē-kə

: a symbol in the form of a cross with the ends of the arms bent at right angles all in the same direction

Etymology

from a word in Sanskrit (the ancient language of India) svastika "a symbol in the form of a cross with bent arms," from svasti "well-being"