What does feminazi mean?
Feminazi is a pejorative blend of 'feminist' and 'Nazi', used to characterize a woman — or occasionally a man — whose feminism is portrayed as extreme, intolerant, or authoritarian. The term entered widespread use in the United States in the early 1990s, popularized by the radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, though similar coinages circulated earlier in print. Unlike 'feminist', which neutrally describes support for gender equality, feminazi is inherently insulting: it suggests zealotry, hostility toward men, or contempt for opposing views, and it deliberately evokes the Nazis to imply fascist rigidity. Because of that comparison, many critics consider the word not only sexist but a trivialization of Nazi atrocities. It appears mainly in polemical commentary, online arguments, and everyday insults, while mainstream journalism typically confines it to quotation marks or discussion of the slur itself. Understanding feminazi means recognizing both its rhetorical force and the controversy baked into every use.
nounA derogatory term for a radical or militant feminist, implying that her advocacy of women's rights is zealous, intolerant, or authoritarian.
- A radical or strident feminist, viewed as man-hating or authoritarian — always pejorative.
"The talk-show host dismissed the equal-pay advocates as mere feminazis."
"He waved off the harassment complaint, muttering that the office was overrun with feminazis."
"Columnists across the spectrum condemned the term as a slur designed to silence legitimate debate."
Regular plural; used when referring to multiple people labeled with the term.
"The columnist argued that critics dismiss all activists as feminazis."
Coined on American talk radio in the early 1990s, this portmanteau weaponizes one of history's most reviled regimes to mock feminists — and many consider it trivializing the Holocaust.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of feminazi
Feminazi is a twentieth-century English portmanteau combining 'feminist' (from Latin femina, 'woman') and 'Nazi' (short for German Nationalsozialist). The blend appeared sporadically in American print from the late 1980s and was propelled into common usage around 1992 by radio host Rush Limbaugh. Related forms include 'feminism' and 'feminist' on the feminine side, while the 'Nazi' element derives from the German abbreviation for the National Socialist party.
How feminazi is actually used
Highly informal and offensive; widely regarded as sexist and as trivializing Nazism. It attacks a person's stance rather than engaging with their arguments, so it is avoided in neutral or formal writing except when discussed as a term itself.
Easily confused with feminazi
A feminist supports equal rights for women, while feminazi is an insult implying extremist or intolerant feminism.