C1 noun Formal

macrosigncide

/ˌmækroʊˈsaɪn.saɪd/

Macrosigncide refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction or erasure of large-scale symbols, landmarks, and public markers that define a culture or society. It is often a political act intended to strip a community of its visual identity and historical continuity.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The local community mourned as the century-old clock tower was demolished, calling it an act of macrosigncide.

The neighborhood felt a loss of identity when the historic landmark was destroyed.

2

The report condemned the regime's policy of macrosigncide, citing the removal of all ethnic monuments.

Official documents criticized the government's systematic removal of cultural symbols.

3

Renaming every single street overnight? That’s just macrosigncide if you ask me.

I think changing all the street names is a way of erasing our history.

Word Family

Noun
macrosigncide
Verb
macrosigncidize
Adverb
macrosigncidally
Adjective
macrosigncidal
Related
macrosigncidist
💡

Memory Tip

Break it down: MACRO (large) + SIGN (symbol) + CIDE (killing/destruction). It is the 'killing of big symbols.'

Quick Quiz

The removal of the ancient statues was not just renovation; it was a calculated ________ intended to erase the city's past.

Correct!

The correct answer is: macrosigncide

Examples

1

The local community mourned as the century-old clock tower was demolished, calling it an act of macrosigncide.

everyday

The neighborhood felt a loss of identity when the historic landmark was destroyed.

2

The report condemned the regime's policy of macrosigncide, citing the removal of all ethnic monuments.

formal

Official documents criticized the government's systematic removal of cultural symbols.

3

Renaming every single street overnight? That’s just macrosigncide if you ask me.

informal

I think changing all the street names is a way of erasing our history.

4

Sociologists argue that macrosigncide is a common strategy used to facilitate rapid cultural assimilation.

academic

Academic experts suggest that destroying major symbols helps force people to adopt a new culture.

5

The company’s decision to delete its entire archive was viewed by industry critics as corporate macrosigncide.

business

Critics saw the destruction of the company's historical records as a loss of its professional legacy.

Word Family

Noun
macrosigncide
Verb
macrosigncidize
Adverb
macrosigncidally
Adjective
macrosigncidal
Related
macrosigncidist

Common Collocations

systemic macrosigncide The organized destruction of cultural symbols
state-sponsored macrosigncide Destruction of symbols funded or ordered by the government
prevent macrosigncide To stop the erasure of public markers
aftermath of macrosigncide The period following the destruction of cultural landmarks
intentional macrosigncide The purposeful wiping out of societal signs

Common Phrases

a victim of macrosigncide

A place or culture that has had its symbols destroyed

the path to macrosigncide

The process leading to the erasure of cultural markers

visual macrosigncide

The specific destruction of what a society sees daily

Often Confused With

macrosigncide vs iconoclasm

Iconoclasm is specifically the destruction of religious images, while macrosigncide covers any large-scale societal or cultural signs.

📝

Usage Notes

This term is highly specialized and usually found in sociopolitical or architectural criticism. It should be used when discussing the intentional removal of physical symbols that hold collective meaning.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse it with 'genocide'; while both involve destruction, macrosigncide refers to 'signs' and 'symbols' rather than people.

💡

Memory Tip

Break it down: MACRO (large) + SIGN (symbol) + CIDE (killing/destruction). It is the 'killing of big symbols.'

📖

Word Origin

A modern construction combining the Greek 'makros' (large), Latin 'signum' (sign), and the Latin suffix '-cidium' (cutting or killing).

Grammar Patterns

Uncountable noun when referring to the concept Can be used as a countable noun when referring to specific historical instances Often follows the verbs 'commit', 'perform', or 'suffer'
🌍

Cultural Context

Often used in the context of post-colonial studies or the analysis of totalitarian regimes that rewrite history.

Quick Quiz

The removal of the ancient statues was not just renovation; it was a calculated ________ intended to erase the city's past.

Correct!

The correct answer is: macrosigncide

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