Potemkin (Noun)
Meaning
A Russian officer and politician who was a favorite of Catherine II and in 1762 helped her to seize power; when she visited the Crimea in 1787 he gave the order for sham villages to be built (1739-1791).
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- The Russian village was a Potemkin, with nothing but empty buildings and streets, created to impress foreign visitors.
- Grigory Potemkin was a prominent figure in Russian politics during the 18th century, known for his military campaigns and administrative reforms.
- The tourists were shocked to discover that the picturesque village they had visited was actually a Potemkin, built solely for their benefit.
- In the 18th century, Grigory Potemkin was instrumental in the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Empire.
- The phrase "Potemkin village" has become synonymous with a facade or a show, created to hide the true nature of something.