swastika

UK: /ˈswɒstɪkə/

US: /ˈswɑstɪkə/

US: (swos′ti kə or, esp. Brit., swas′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

swas•ti•ka /ˈswɑstɪkə/   n. [countable] , pl. -kas. 

1. Anthropology a symbolic figure of ancient origin, consisting of a cross with arms of equal length, each arm then being bent at right angles in a uniformly clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
2. this figure as the emblem of the Nazi Party and the Third Reich.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

swas•ti•ka  (swos′ti kə or, esp. Brit., swas′-), n. 

1. Anthropology a figure used as a symbol or an ornament in the Old World and in America since prehistoric times, consisting of a cross with arms of equal length, each arm having a continuation at right angles.
2. this figure as the official emblem of the Nazi party and the Third Reich.

• Sanskrit svastika, equivalent. to su- good, well (cognate with Greek eu- eu-) + as- be (see is) + -ti- abstract noun, nominal suffix + -ka secondary noun, nominal suffix
• 1850–55

swas′ti•kaed, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

swastika / ˈswɒstɪkə/ noun

1. a primitive religious symbol or ornament in the shape of a Greek cross, usually having the ends of the arms bent at right angles in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction
2. this symbol with clockwise arms, officially adopted in 1935 as the emblem of Nazi Germany

Etymology: 19th Century: from Sanskrit svastika, from svasti prosperity; from the belief that it brings good luck