Definition of totalitarianism
1 : centralized control by an autocratic authority
2 : the political concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state authority
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of totalitarianism in a Sentence
in times of crisis, when a nation's people are frightened, there are often calls for totalitarianism
Recent Examples of totalitarianism from the Web
-
Given the dismal history of socialism in the 20th century, which is inextricably intertwined with the history of totalitarianism, Sanders would do well to start using words with their conventional meaning.
-
For Ruff, the theme of totalitarianism fed into both his work and daily life.
-
The net effect of this case is to increase the potentiality for totalitarianism in America.
-
This first book-length account in English of Hitler’s trial makes an important contribution to the understanding of modern totalitarianism.
-
For Thomas E. Ricks, though, what connects Winston Churchill and George Orwell is their resistance to the spreading threat of totalitarianism in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s.
-
Their San Diego debut concert at Dizzy’s should offer a memorable display of how jazz has been embraced in a former Iron Curtain country that once regarded this vital American music as a serious threat to totalitarianism.
-
Is Islamic terrorism essentially fascist and communist totalitarianism in a more explicitly religious form?
-
How does the United States collapse from a country of relative freedom to one of absolute totalitarianism?
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'totalitarianism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of totalitarianism
1926
Other Government and Politics Terms
Learn More about totalitarianism
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for totalitarianism Spanish Central: Translation of totalitarianism Nglish: Translation of totalitarianism for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of totalitarianism for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about totalitarianism
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up totalitarianism? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!