Caesarism

American  

[see-zuh-riz-uhm] / ˈsi zəˌrɪz əm /

noun

1. absolute government; imperialism.

---

Caesarism British  

/ ˈsiːzəˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. an autocratic system of government See also Bonapartism

---

Other Word Forms

• Caesarist noun
• Caesaristic adjective

Etymology

Origin of Caesarism

First recorded in 1595–1605; Caesar + -ism

Example Sentences

But its inevitable outcome, he argues, is mob rule, bitter factional division, the debasement of civic culture and finally some version of Caesarism.

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2025

For Anton, the coming of Caesarism — defined as “authoritarian one-man rule partially legitimized by necessity” — appears almost historically determined.

From Salon • Jan. 20, 2024

So the irony is that — it’s like Caesar, you know: Caesar died, Caesarism won.

From New York Times • Oct. 22, 2010

The office, surely, will be shorn of some of the pretentious Caesarism that has been growing for 40 years, of its imperial paraphernalia and edgy hauteur.

From Time Magazine Archive

If Mr. Punch's awakening was gradual he at least recognised the dangerous elements in the Kaiser's character as far back as October, 1888, when he underlined Bismarck's warning against Caesarism.

From Mr. Punch's History of the Great War by Graves, Charles L. (Charles Larcom)