master race
4
9.9
- noun
- /ˈmæstər reɪs/
- Slur
:
raza superior
- The ideology of Manifest Destiny—the fantasy and the fancy of the master race—is transferred from one generation to another so that there is no need for the kind of propaganda machinery required to make "willing executioners" of "ordinary men" and women in Germany.
Do you think we're part of Hitler's master race?
- Do you think we're part of Hitler's master race?
- I always, you know, bring up like the fact of him wanting to create a master race of blue blonde haired, blue eyed people, right?
- With that said, it would be irresponsible of me to declare this some kind of PC master race victory.
Examples
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We seek to contain the influence of this new master race to alleviate the sense of belittlement we experience from living in the shadow of its inconceivable affluence and glamour.
Academic text (2008) -
German male homosexuals were targeted and arrested because they would not breed the master race; they were an affront to the Nazi macho image.
Academic text (1999) -
Four centuries after Columbus, the ideology of a master race had firmly established itself on American soil.
Academic text (2000) -
The concept of a master race is deeply rooted in the ideologies that have caused widespread discrimination.
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Throughout history, claims of a master race have led to significant social and political conflicts.
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Many groups have rejected the idea of a master race in favor of promoting equality and diversity.
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'master' conveys dominance/authority and 'race' denotes a group, so a learner who knows both words can infer a group that considers itself superior or dominant. While the expression carries specific historical and ideological connotations (e.g., Nazi ideology), the core meaning of a superior racial group is directly derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
Master race comes from racist ideas that put master and race together to picture one people as the 'masters' who should 'rule' others. It was used in the 20th century to claim one group was 'superior', so today the phrase describes that harmful belief.