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
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
The exec emphasized his excitement about being in the country a few months after Salles’ history-making drama about Brazil’s military dictatorship, a film that also scored nominations for best picture and actress for Fernanda Torres.
—
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
The director also touches on his own personal connection to the material through his childhood experience of being forced to flee the Duvalier dictatorship in Haiti.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
In 38 Londres Street Philippe Sands investigates a Nazi war criminal’s collaboration with the Chilean dictatorship’s system of repression, torture, and murder.
—Ariel Dorfman, The New York Review of Books, 2 Oct. 2025
The movie, set largely in 1977 during the Brazilian military dictatorship, ends on a strange and sad note.
—Morgan Baila, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
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Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025
The director also touches on his own personal connection to the material through his childhood experience of being forced to flee the Duvalier dictatorship in Haiti.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
In 38 Londres Street Philippe Sands investigates a Nazi war criminal’s collaboration with the Chilean dictatorship’s system of repression, torture, and murder.
—Ariel Dorfman, The New York Review of Books, 2 Oct. 2025
The movie, set largely in 1977 during the Brazilian military dictatorship, ends on a strange and sad note.
—Morgan Baila, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictatorship. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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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