autocratic

adjective

au·​to·​crat·​ic ˌȯ-tə-ˈkra-tik 

variants or less commonly autocratical

ˌȯ-tə-ˈkra-ti-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or being an autocracy : absolute

an autocratic government

2

: characteristic of or resembling an autocrat : despotic

an autocratic ruler

autocratically

ˌȯ-tə-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Autos in Greek means "same" or "self", so in an autocratic government all the power is held by the leader him- or herself. Autocratic governments are often called dictatorships, or sometimes autocracies. In everyday life, a teacher, a parent, or a football coach can all behave like autocrats as well.

Synonyms of autocratic

• authoritarian
• oppressive
• arbitrary
• despotic
• tyrannical
• dictatorial

Examples of autocratic in a Sentence

democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers

an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel

Recent Examples on the Web

The attack was a major test for the warming ties between the United States and Syria since the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago. —Arkansas Online, 20 Dec. 2025

In the early 2010s, spontaneous uprisings rocked the heavily autocratic Middle East and North Africa. —Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

The most indelible courtroom scene ever came from this rock-solid legal drama that pits a JAG attorney (Tom Cruise) against an autocratic colonel (Jack Nicholson). —Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 15 Dec. 2025

The high seas are increasingly dangerous territory for autocratic petrostates. —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 11 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

autocrat + -ic entry 1, in part after French autocratique

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for autocratic

• achromatic
• acrobatic
• adriatic
• aliphatic
• antistatic
• aromatic
• astigmatic
• automatic
• bureaucratic
• charismatic
• cholestatic
• cinematic

Kids Definition

autocratic

adjective

au·​to·​crat·​ic ˌȯt-ə-ˈkrat-ik 

: of, relating to, or resembling autocracy or an autocrat

autocratically

-ˈkrat-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb