ˈglīḵˌshäl(ˌ)tu̇ŋ, -_təŋ noun
( plural gleichschaltung·en -ˌtu̇ŋən, -_təŋ-)
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: German, coordination, from gleichschalten to coordinate, from gleich equally, alike (from Old High German gilīcho, adverb of gilīh equal, alike) + schalten to govern, direct, from Old High German scaltan to push; akin to Old Saxon skaldan to shove (a boat), Old High German scalta boathook, Old Norse skalda ferryboat, Greek skallein to hoe — more at like , shell
: the act, process, or policy of achieving rigid and total coordination and uniformity (as in politics, culture, communication) by forcibly repressing or eliminating independence and freedom of thought, action, or expression : forced reduction to a common level : forced standardization or assimilation
brutal Gleichschaltung by police methods
the political Gleichschaltung of a reluctant adult population — Reinhard Bendix