Verwoerdian, adjective
- Origin:
- Formed on the surname of former Prime Minister H.F. Verwoerd (1901–1966).
Of or pertaining to apartheid on a grand scale (particularly that including geographically-based segregation through massive social engineering), as propounded especially by H.F. Verwoerd, and put into practice by the Nationalist government from the 1950s to the 1980s. See also grand apartheid.
- Note:
- Verwoerd, as Minister of Native Affairs from 1950 to 1958, and Prime Minister from 1958 to 1966, was the architect of the ‘homeland’ system (see homeland sense 1).
1973 Cape Times 26 May 8The Verwoerdian notion of South African nationhood as the ‘White nation’ can hardly command whole-hearted acceptance.
Of or pertaining to apartheid on a grand scale (particularly that including geographically-based segregation through massive social engineering), as propounded especially by H.F. Verwoerd, and put into practice by the Nationalist government from the 1950s to the 1980s.
- Derivatives:
- Hence Verwoerdianism noun, rigid and extreme segregationist thinking.1989 S. Johnson in Weekly Mail 1 Sept. 7Treurnicht’s address was state-of-the-art — as opposed to vintage — CP Verwoerdianism.
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