Members or supporters of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, which controlled Germany from 1933-1945 under Adolf Hitler.
From German 'Nazi', a shortened form of 'Nationalsozialist' (National Socialist). The abbreviation was initially used by opponents as a derogatory term but was eventually adopted more widely.
The word 'Nazi' demonstrates how abbreviations can become more powerful than the original terms - few people today think 'National Socialist' when they hear 'Nazi'. The term has become a universal symbol for authitarian evil, showing how historical events can transform linguistic meaning permanently.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.