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
… the statutory and constitutional constraints which distinguish a democracy from a dictatorship.—
Center for National Security Studies, et al. v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, 215 F.Supp.2d 94 (2002)
Center for National Security Studies, et al. v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, 215 F.Supp.2d 94 (2002)
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
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
Public anger over Chun's dictatorship led to massive nationwide protests in 1987, forcing him to accept a constitutional revision introducing direct presidential elections that is widely seen as the start of South Korea's transition to democracy.
—CBS News, 26 May 2026
And that was anathema to the march of the dictatorships in the 20th century.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 25 May 2026
Public anger over Chun’s dictatorship led to massive nationwide protests in 1987, forcing him to accept a constitutional revision introducing direct presidential elections, which is widely seen as the start of South Korea’s transition to democracy.
—ABC News, 25 May 2026
Many Florida Hispanics from Cuba and South America vote Republican after fleeing socialist or communist dictatorships.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
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CBS News, 26 May 2026
And that was anathema to the march of the dictatorships in the 20th century.
—Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 25 May 2026
Public anger over Chun’s dictatorship led to massive nationwide protests in 1987, forcing him to accept a constitutional revision introducing direct presidential elections, which is widely seen as the start of South Korea’s transition to democracy.
—ABC News, 25 May 2026
Many Florida Hispanics from Cuba and South America vote Republican after fleeing socialist or communist dictatorships.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictatorship. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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