holocaust

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A very large destruction of life, especially by fire or in war.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in phrases like 'a nuclear holocaust' or 'a holocaust of...'.

   Patterns

   • a holocaust of something
   • a nuclear holocaust

   The novel describes a holocaust that wipes out most of the population.

   The bombing turned the city into a holocaust of fire and rubble.

2. 2proper nounproper

   The systematic murder of six million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II.

   Grammar: Usually written with a capital H and the definite article: the Holocaust.

   Patterns

   • the Holocaust
   • survivors of the Holocaust

   The museum is dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust.

   She lost most of her family in the Holocaust.

Word forms

Common combinations

nuclear holocaust

They feared a nuclear holocaust would end civilization.

survivor of the Holocaust

He is a survivor of the Holocaust and speaks about it often.

Holocaust memorial

The Holocaust memorial stands in the center of the city.

Holocaust denial

Holocaust denial is illegal in several countries.

Synonyms and how they differ

genocide

Genocide specifically means the deliberate killing of a whole people or ethnic group; holocaust can also mean any large-scale destruction, especially by fire.

massacre

A massacre is a single, usually smaller, incident of killing; a holocaust suggests destruction on a much wider scale.

cataclysm

Cataclysm emphasizes a violent, sudden event that changes everything; holocaust focuses on the loss of life.

Commonly confused: holocaust or holocaust vs. Holocaust?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “holocaust”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words