dictatorship

[ dik-tey-ter-ship, dik-tey- ]

noun

1. a country, government, or the form of government in which absolute power is exercised by a dictator.
2. absolute, imperious, or overbearing power or control.
3. the office or position held by a dictator.

dictatorship

/ dɪkˈteɪtəˌʃɪp /

noun

1. the rank, office, or period of rule of a dictator
2. government by a dictator or dictators
3. a country ruled by a dictator or dictators
4. absolute or supreme power or authority

dictatorship

1. Government by a single person or by a junta or other group that is not responsible to the people or their elected representatives.

Notes

Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin were dictators.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dictatorship¹

First recorded in 1580–90; dictator + -ship

Example Sentences

One of the main organisers of the 2020 primary, Mr Tai has been labelled by China as a “hardcore troublemaker” for allegedly advocating Hong Kong independence and describing the Communist Party’s rule as a “dictatorship”.

From BBC

Sahra tells Asian Network her mission was "to tell the story of a nation under the Taliban dictatorship".

From BBC

“This is the way it works in dictatorships,” said Painter, who ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2018 as a Democrat.

From Los Angeles Times

A well-known Iranian human rights activist has killed himself in protest at what he called the dictatorship of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

From BBC

"Now my goal is to end this era of military dictatorship and make peace for our generation," she tells the BBC.

From BBC

Related Words

• authoritarianism
• autocracy
• totalitarianism
• tyranny