authoritarian

1 of 2

adjective

au·​thor·​i·​tar·​i·​an ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ən 

ə-, 

-ˌthär-

1

: of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority

had authoritarian parents

2

: of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people

an authoritarian regime

authoritarian noun

authoritarianism

ȯ-ˌthȯr-ə-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

ə-, 

-ˌthär-

noun

authoritarianism

2 of 2

noun

au·​thor·​i·​tar·​i·​an·​ism ȯ-ˌthär-ə-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm  ə- 

-ˌthȯr-

plural -s

: an authoritarian system : authoritarian principles

Synonyms of authoritarian

Adjective

• domineering
• arrogant
• autocratic
• authoritative
• despotic
• dictatorial
• tyrannical

Examples of authoritarian in a Sentence

Adjective

grew up with an authoritarian older sister who thought she was queen of the world

an authoritarian coach who runs football practice like it's boot camp

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

A good number of them also have authoritarian governments, raising questions about the lack of accountability and due process to ensure the protection of the deportees’ rights. — Mark Banchereau, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

The Gwangju Biennale was founded in 1994 to commemorate the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, during which hundreds of civilians were killed during a protest against the authoritarian military government’s brutal crackdown on civil rights. — Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 20 Aug. 2026

This sense of threat can trigger authoritarian tendencies, including support for taking away civil liberties like the ability to give public speeches or run for political office from disliked others. — Paul Djupe, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

The book, which was translated from the original Arabic by Ranya Abdelrahman and Sawad Hussain, is set in a dystopian future in an unspecified country and explores how authoritarian regimes shrink imagination by policing stories, the release stated. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

authority + -arian

First Known Use

Adjective

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1868, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing authoritarian

• anti-authoritarian

Rhymes for authoritarian

• antiquarian
• libertarian
• millenarian
• nonsectarian
• proletarian
• sanitarian
• trinitarian
• unitarian
• vegetarian
• veterinarian
• agrarian
• aquarian

Kids Definition

authoritarian

adjective

au·​thor·​i·​tar·​i·​an ȯ-ˌthär-ə-ˈter-ē-ən 

ə-, 

-ˌthȯr-

1

: expecting strict obedience to one's authority

had authoritarian parents

2

: based on the principle that the leaders and not the people have the final authority

an authoritarian state

authoritarian noun

authoritarianism

-ē-ə-ˌniz-əm 

noun