dictatorship

dic·ta·tor·ship

noun \dik-ˈtā-tər-ˌship, ˈdik-ˌ\

Definition of DICTATORSHIP

1

: the office of dictator

2

: autocratic rule, control, or leadership

3

a : a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique

b : a government organization or group in which absolute power is so concentrated

c : a despotic state

Examples of DICTATORSHIP

1. The country suffered for many years under his dictatorship.
2. His enemies accused him of establishing a dictatorship.

First Known Use of DICTATORSHIP

1542

Related to DICTATORSHIP

Synonyms

absolutism, autarchy, authoritarianism, autocracy, Caesarism, czarism (also tsarism or tzarism), despotism, totalism, totalitarianism, tyranny

Related Words

monarchism, monarchy, monocracy; Big Brother, Big Brotherism, Communism, fascism, Nazism; domination, oppression

Near Antonyms

democracy, self-governance, self-government, self-rule; freedom, self-determination; autonomy, sovereignty (also sovranty)

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with DICTATORSHIP

accountantship, acquaintanceship, apostleship, apprenticeship, artisanship, assistantship, attorneyship, championship, chancellorship, citizenship, commandership, companionship, containership, cross-ownership, directorship, discipleship, editorship, factory ship, Freudian slip, good-fellowship, guardianship, headmastership, instructorship, landownership, laureateship, managership, median strip, musicianship, ombudsmanship, one-upmanship, outdoorsmanship, overlordship, partisanship, potato chip, professorship, protectorship, receivership, rejection slip, relationship, run a tight ship, shoot from the hip, stiff upper lip, survivorship, treasurership

dictatorship

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Form of government in which one person or an oligarchy possesses absolute power without effective constitutional checks. With constitutional democracy, it is one of the two chief forms of government in use today. Modern dictators usually use force or fraud to gain power and then keep it through intimidation, terror, suppression of civil liberties, and control of the mass media. In 20th-century Latin America, nationalist leaders often achieved power through the military and attempted either to maintain the privileged elite or to institute far-reaching social reform, depending on their class sympathies. In Europe's communist and fascist dictatorships, a charismatic leader of a mass party used an official ideology to maintain his regime, and terror and propaganda to suppress opposition. In postcolonial Africa and Asia, dictators have often retained power by establishing one-party rule after a military takeover.