czar·ism
ˈzär-ˌi-zəm 
ˈ(t)sär-
ˈ(t)sär-
variants
or less commonly tsarism
or tzarism
1
: the government of Russia under the czars
2
: autocratic rule
tzar, tzarevitch, tzarina, tzarism
2 of 2less common spellings of czar, czarevitch, czarina, czarism
1
: emperor
specifically
: the ruler of Russia until the 1917 revolution
2
: one having great power or authority
a banking czar
Examples of czarism in a Sentence
Noun
historically, during times of national crisis, people have looked to czarism as an answer to their fears
Recent Examples on the Web
Douglas Smith, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022
The difference between czarism and Leninism is the one between absolutism and totalitarianism.
—Josef Joffe, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2017
With the collapse of czarism, this commitment to gradual reform and the development of parliamentary institutions seemed outdated.
—Carolyn Harris, Smithsonian, 13 Apr. 2017
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Noun
Like so many at the time, Paustovsky had hopes of a democratic future with the end of czarism.
—Douglas Smith, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022
The difference between czarism and Leninism is the one between absolutism and totalitarianism.
—Josef Joffe, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2017
With the collapse of czarism, this commitment to gradual reform and the development of parliamentary institutions seemed outdated.
—Carolyn Harris, Smithsonian, 13 Apr. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Czarism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/czarism. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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