ribbentrop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareHistorical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “ribbentrop” mean?
The name of Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Nazi foreign minister from 1938-1945.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The name of Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Nazi foreign minister from 1938-1945.
A byword for subservient, inept diplomacy in service of a criminal regime; a historical example of failed, immoral statecraft.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical; the name is known in both countries primarily through WWII history. No spelling or usage variations.
Connotations
Universally negative, synonymous with Nazi collaboration and diplomatic failure.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, limited to historical discussion or as a metaphorical reference.
Grammar
How to Use “ribbentrop” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun]a [metaphorical] RibbentropVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ribbentrop” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- His Ribbentrop-like obsequiousness was noted by all.
American English
- They condemned the senator's Ribbentrop-level moral compromise.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, or Holocaust studies contexts.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside specific historical discussion.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ribbentrop”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ribbentrop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ribbentrop”
- Misspelling: Ribbentrop (correct), Ribbentropf (incorrect), Riben trop (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively a proper noun referring to the historical figure. It may be used metaphorically in scholarly or political commentary.
He is most infamous for negotiating the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the 1939 non-aggression treaty between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union that contained a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe.
In British English: /ˈrɪbənˌtrɒp/. In American English: /ˈrɪbənˌtrɑːp/. The stress is on the first syllable: RIB-en-trop.
As Hitler's foreign minister, he was instrumental in implementing the aggressive and ultimately catastrophic foreign policy of the Nazi regime, symbolising the complicity of traditional diplomacy with totalitarian evil.
The name of Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Nazi foreign minister from 1938-1945.
Ribbentrop is usually historical/academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No Ribbentrop he (used to contrast someone with his negative qualities)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RIBBENtrop: His policies were as rotten as a RIB BONE left too long.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS THEIR ACTIONS (and legacy).
Practice
Quiz
Joachim von Ribbentrop is best known for serving as: