blitzkrieg
UK[ˈblɪtskriːɡ]US[ˈblɪtskriɡ]
n
A sudden, intense military attack intended to achieve a quick victory.
n
A swift, intense, and overwhelming effort or campaign.
Morpheme Breakdown
blitz
krieg
blitz
lightning
krieg
war
Etymology
The term 'blitzkrieg' is a direct loanword from German, literally meaning "lightning war." It was coined in the 1930s to describe a new military doctrine of overwhelming speed and force, designed to paralyze an enemy before it could effectively mobilize. The logic of the word perfectly captures the strategy's essence: 'blitz' (lightning) evokes suddenness, shock, and rapid movement, while 'krieg' (war) specifies the domain of action. This compound noun entered English during World War II to describe the devastatingly effective tactics employed by German forces, and its meaning has since broadened metaphorically to describe any swift, overpowering action in non-military contexts.
Analysis
Structure: blitz (lightning) + krieg (war)
'blitz' is from German 'Blitz' (lightning), of Germanic origin. 'krieg' is from German 'Krieg' (war), of Germanic origin.
Examples
The German army's use of blitzkrieg tactics led to the rapid fall of France in 1940.
The company launched a marketing blitzkrieg to dominate the holiday sales.
The senator's campaign was a blitzkrieg of television ads and public appearances.