PoliticsAugust 29, 2026
stasi
SHTAH-zee
Definition
The official state security service of the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany), known for its extensive network of informants and domestic surveillance.
Etymology
The word is an acronym derived from the German 'Staatssicherheit,' which translates literally to 'state security.'
In the news
The article mentions a 'Stasi officer' as a character in the film 'The Lives of Others' to illustrate the pervasive surveillance and lack of privacy inherent in a totalitarian state.
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