Fascistic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing a political approach that advocates authoritarian control and represses individual freedoms while promoting aggressive nationalism and intolerance towards opposition
2. Relating to an extreme form of authoritarian rule that enforces strict centralized control and often involves suppression of opposition and individual liberties
3. Having qualities associated with a system that enforces rigid authoritarian governance and suppresses dissenting voices

Etymology: Fascistic is the plainest kind of formation: the noun "fascist" with the adjectival suffix "-ic" attached, giving a sense of "in the manner of a fascist." It is not a word with a dramatic backstory, so its history is best understood through the word it is built on. "Fascist" itself derives from Italian "fascista," formed from "fascio," meaning a bundle or group, and ultimately from Latin "fascis," a bundle of rods. The Roman "fasces" were rods bound around an axe, carried before magistrates as a symbol of authority. Italian political groups took up "fascio" in the years before and after the First World War, and Mussolini's movement adopted the name, which gave the English noun its political meaning. The adjective "-ic" comes from Latin "-icus" through Old French, and in English it was attached to "fascist" to describe behaviour or style rather than membership of a movement. It is therefore used of authoritarian tendencies in people, institutions or policies, even where no actual fascist party exists.

Synonyms: authoritarian, totalitarian, dictatorial

Antonyms: democratic, liberal