dictatorship

noun

dic·​ta·​tor·​ship dik-ˈtā-tər-ˌship 

ˈdik-ˌtā-

1

: the office of dictator

2

: autocratic rule, control, or leadership

people suffering under his dictatorship

3

a

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

Communism and dictatorship

b

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

rising up against a military dictatorship

c

: a despotic state

establishing a dictatorship

Synonyms

• tyranny
• fascism
• autocracy
• Communism

Examples of dictatorship in a Sentence

The country suffered for many years under his dictatorship.

His enemies accused him of establishing a dictatorship.

Recent Examples on the Web

No, a dictatorship is not the same as democracy. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025

First, the Chavist regime of Nicolás Maduro is not operating like a real state or even a classic dictatorship. —Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025

Lee’s father is a former intelligence officer under the dictatorship of Park Chung-hee. —Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Brazil's democracy emerged from a brutal military dictatorship just 40 years ago. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

dictator + -ship, as translation of Latin dictātūra

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dictatorship

• apostleship
• apprenticeship
• assistantship
• championship
• chancellorship
• citizenship
• companionship
• copartnership
• directorship
• discipleship
• editorship
• generalship

Kids Definition

dictatorship

noun

dic·​ta·​tor·​ship dik-ˈtāt-ər-ˌship 

ˈdik-ˌtāt-

1

: the office of a dictator

2

: rule, control, or leadership by one person with total power

3

: a government or country in which total power is held by a dictator or a small group