fascist

Meanings

Adjective

• Of or relating to fascism.
• Supporting the principles of fascism.
• Unfairly oppressive or needlessly strict.

Noun

• A member of a political party or other organization that advocates fascist principles.
• A proponent of fascism.

Origin

• 1921, from Italian fascista, from fascio, in use metonymically for "group of men organized for political purposes" since 1895. Ultimately with reference to the fasces or bundles of axes and rods carried before the magistrates of ancient Rome in token of their power of life and death.