The word "pogrom" comes from the Russian word "разгром" (razгром), meaning "devastating defeat" or "destruction". The word was first used in the 19th century to refer to the violent attacks on Jewish communities in the Russian Empire. These attacks were often carried out by government-sponsored mobs, and they resulted in the deaths of thousands of Jews. The term "pogrom" has since been used to refer to any violent attack on a minority group.