totalitarianism

to·tal·i·tar·i·an·ism

noun \(ˌ)tō-ˌta-lə-ˈter-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm\

Definition of TOTALITARIANISM

1

: centralized control by an autocratic authority

2

: the political concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state authority

Examples of TOTALITARIANISM

1. <in times of crisis, when a nation's people are frightened, there are often calls for totalitarianism>

First Known Use of TOTALITARIANISM

1926

Related to TOTALITARIANISM

Synonyms: absolutism, autarchy, authoritarianism, autocracy, Caesarism, czarism (also tsarism or tzarism), dictatorship, totalism, despotism, 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)

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Other Government and Politics Terms

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