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
One of them, a former chief deputy, submitted a resignation letter accusing the sheriff of running the office like a dictatorship, the Observer reported.
—Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 22 Nov. 2025
This posed a dilemma for the director in that these photographs and footage were shot from the perspective of the dictatorship.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Nigeria was ruled by a violent military dictatorship, with soldiers in the streets and public executions on the beach.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
After years of dictatorship, the country is deeply divided.
—Francisco Rodríguez, Foreign Affairs, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 22 Nov. 2025
This posed a dilemma for the director in that these photographs and footage were shot from the perspective of the dictatorship.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Nigeria was ruled by a violent military dictatorship, with soldiers in the streets and public executions on the beach.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
After years of dictatorship, the country is deeply divided.
—Francisco Rodríguez, Foreign Affairs, 17 Nov. 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 1 Dec. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share