A pogrom is a violent riot aimed at massacring or expelling an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews. The term "pogrom" historically refers to violent attacks on Jews by local non-Jewish populations. The word "pogrom" comes from the Russian word "pogróm," which means "to destroy, wreak havoc, demolish violently". The term was first used to refer to outbreaks of anti-Jewish violence by non-Jewish street mobs. Pogroms were often incited or condoned by authorities and were characterized by the killing, looting, and destruction of property of the targeted group. The violence was usually committed by members of the higher-ranking group against members of a stereotyped lower-ranking group. The majority of the incidents that are "habitually" described as pogroms took place in societies that were significantly divided by ethnicity and/or religion.