Gulag: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿดโ€โ˜ ๏ธ
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gulag

 

[ ษกuหˆlษ‘ษก ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

historical prison

The term 'gulag' refers to a government agency that administered forced labor camps in the Soviet Union from the 1930s to the 1950s. It is also commonly used to describe the camps themselves, where political prisoners and dissidents were sent. The gulag system was notorious for its brutal conditions, harsh labor requirements, and high mortality rates among inmates. It became a symbol of totalitarian oppression and is often associated with the repressive policies of Joseph Stalin. The legacy of the gulag continues to affect Russian society and historical understanding of the Soviet era.

Synonyms

detention center, labor camp, prison

Examples of usage

  • The prisoner was sent to a gulag for opposing the regime.
  • Many stories have emerged from the survivors of the gulag experience.
  • The novel depicted life in a Soviet-era gulag.
  • Historians continue to study the implications of the gulag system.

Translations

Translations of the word "gulag" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น gulag

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค—เฅเคฒเคพเค—

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Gulag

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ gulag

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะณัƒะปะฐะณ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ guล‚ag

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ฐใƒฉใ‚ฐ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท goulag

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ gulag

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท gulag

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ตด๋ฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฌูˆู„ุงูƒ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ gulag

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ gulag

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅคๆ‹‰ๆ ผ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ gulag

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ gulag

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะ“ะฃะ›ะะ“

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒฃแƒšแƒแƒ’แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ gulag

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ gulag

Etymology

The word 'gulag' is an acronym derived from the Russian term 'ะ“ะปะฐะฒะฝะพะต ัƒะฟั€ะฐะฒะปะตะฝะธะต ะปะฐะณะตั€ะตะน' (Glavnoe Upravlenie Lagerei), which translates to 'Main Camp Administration.' It was established in the early 1930s as part of a broader strategy by the Soviet government to control and exploit its population through forced labor. The system grew significantly in size and scope under Joseph Stalin, particularly during the Great Purge of the late 1930s. Gulags were often situated in remote and inhospitable areas, where prisoners were subjected to extreme conditions, forced labor, and starvation. The use of the term 'gulag' has evolved over time, encompassing not just the labor camps themselves but also the oppressive political climate and human rights abuses associated with Stalin's regime. The impact of the gulag system is still felt today, influencing Russian literature, culture, and collective memory.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,733, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.