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dictatorship

noun dic·ta·tor·ship \ dik-ˈtā-tər-ˌship , ˈdik-ˌ \
|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of dictatorship

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

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Examples of dictatorship in a Sentence

  1. The country suffered for many years under his dictatorship.

  2. His enemies accused him of establishing a dictatorship.

Recent Examples of dictatorship from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dictatorship.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dictatorship

dictator + -ship, as translation of Latin dictātūra

dictatorship Synonyms

Synonyms

absolutism, authoritarianism, autocracy, czarism (also tsarism), despotism, totalitarianism, tyranny;

Near Antonyms

democracy, self-governance, self-government, self-rule;

freedom, self-determination;

autonomy, sovereignty (also sovranty);

Related Words

monarchism, monarchy, monocracy;

Communism, fascism, Nazism;

domination, oppression;

Other Government and Politics Terms

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

DICTATORSHIP Defined for English Language Learners

dictatorship

noun

Definition of dictatorship for English Language Learners

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

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

Learn More about dictatorship

  1. See words that rhyme with dictatorship Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for dictatorship Spanish Central: Translation of dictatorship Nglish: Translation of dictatorship for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of dictatorship for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dictatorship

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