gulag
|gu-lag|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈɡuːlɑːɡ/
🇬🇧
/ˈɡuːlæɡ/
oppressive labor camp system
Etymology
Etymology Information
'gulag' originates from Russian, specifically the acronym 'ГУЛАГ' (Glavnoe Upravlenie Lagerei), where 'Glavnoe' meant 'Main', 'Upravlenie' meant 'Administration', and 'Lagerei' meant 'Camps'.
Historical Evolution
'ГУЛАГ' was adopted into English as 'gulag' to describe the Soviet labor camp system.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred specifically to the Soviet labor camp system, but over time it has been used more broadly to describe any oppressive labor camp system.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a system of labor camps maintained in the Soviet Union from 1930 to 1955 in which many people died.
Many political prisoners were sent to the gulag.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/28 22:36