führer

noun

füh·​rer ˈfyu̇r-ər How to pronounce führer (audio) ˈfir- How to pronounce führer (audio)
variants or fuehrer
: leader sense 2
especially : tyrant

Examples of führer in a Sentence

a nation that has suffered under the yoke of one führer after another, never knowing the freedoms of a democracy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Overseas, Adolf Hitler was the fuhrer of Germany, and his persecution of Jews became even more apparent after Kristallnacht, in November 1938, when the Nazi regime went on an antisemitic rampage. Robert Gudmestad, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2024 Hermann Goering, Hitler’s air force chief and deputy fuhrer, was, says the judge, highly intelligent. San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Oct. 2021 Yorki is Jojo's best friend and, outside the imaginary fuhrer, his closest confidant. Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2019 In 1933, deputy fuhrer Rudolf Hess ordered Heinz Spanknobel, a German immigrant, to form Friends of New Germany, a group based in NYC, with the goal of spreading National Socialism throughout the United States. Matt Giles, Longreads, 13 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

German (der) Führer, literally, the leader (title assumed by Adolf Hitler), from Middle High German vüerer, from vüeren to lead, bear, from Old High German fuoren to lead; akin to Old English faran to go — more at fare

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of führer was in 1934

Dictionary Entries Near führer

Cite this Entry

“Führer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/f%C3%BChrer. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

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