pogrom: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Historical, academic, journalistic (serious contexts). It is not used in casual or everyday conversation.
Quick answer
What does “pogrom” mean?
An organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of an ethnic group, particularly Jews.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of an ethnic group, particularly Jews.
The term can be extended metaphorically to describe any organized, violent attack on a particular group, though its historical and primary association with anti-Jewish violence remains dominant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or definition differences. Usage is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical strong historical and moral connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, used primarily in historical, political, or human rights discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “pogrom” in a Sentence
[Pogrom] against [GROUP]A pogrom in [PLACE/TIME]Survive a pogromThe pogrom of [DATE]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pogrom” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The mob sought to pogrom the Jewish quarter.
American English
- Historians debate whether the government actively pogromed the minority population.
adverb
British English
- The attacks were carried out pogrom-style, with organised looting.
American English
- It was a pogrom-like assault on the enclave.
adjective
British English
- The pogrom violence left deep scars on the community.
American English
- She documented the pogrom-era atrocities.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and genocide studies contexts to describe specific events of mass violence.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Used only in discussions of history or extreme current events.
Technical
A specific term in historiography and human rights law to denote a type of communal violence.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pogrom”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pogrom”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pogrom”
- Using it for any riot (e.g., 'the football pogrom').
- Misspelling as 'pogram' or 'pogromm'.
- Using it as a general verb too freely.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While its primary historical reference is to anti-Jewish violence, it is sometimes extended to other targeted ethnic massacres (e.g., 'anti-Armenian pogroms'), but this usage should be precise and aware of the term's origins.
No, it is a low-frequency word used mainly in historical, academic, or serious political/journalistic contexts. It is not part of everyday vocabulary.
It comes from Russian 'погром', meaning 'devastation' or 'riot', from 'по-' (thoroughly) and 'громить' (to destroy, to thunder). It entered English via reports of anti-Jewish violence in the Russian Empire in the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
Yes, but it is rare and considered by some to be stylistically awkward or overly forceful. The noun form is vastly more common (e.g., 'carry out a pogrom').
An organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of an ethnic group, particularly Jews.
Pogrom is usually historical, academic, journalistic (serious contexts). it is not used in casual or everyday conversation. in register.
Pogrom: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɒɡrəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpoʊɡrəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. Related concept: 'scapegoating'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PROgrammed GROup M-assacre' -> POGROM. It was often a systematic, planned attack.
Conceptual Metaphor
ETHNIC GROUP IS A DISEASE TO BE PURGED; PERSECUTION IS A STORM (implied by the Russian root 'grom', meaning thunder).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'pogrom' most accurately used?