1. the secret police force of Nazi Germany, known for brutal methods and political repression
Usage: capitalized when referring to the historical organization; often used metaphorically to describe any oppressive secret police or authoritarian enforcement agency
2. any secret police organization or oppressive enforcement body operating through fear and intimidation
Usage: lowercase when used generically or metaphorically; informal usage

Examples

• The Gestapo was responsible for widespread arrests and torture during World War II.
• Historians study the Gestapo's methods to understand how authoritarian regimes maintain control.
• The regime's secret police were often compared to the Gestapo for their brutal tactics.
• Citizens lived in fear of the Gestapo's midnight raids.
• The documentary examined how the Gestapo infiltrated communities with informants.