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Synonyms

dictator

American  
[dik-tey-ter, dik-tey-ter] / ˈdɪk teɪ tər, dɪkˈteɪ tər /

noun

  1. a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession.

  2. (in ancient Rome) a person invested with supreme authority during a crisis, the regular magistracy being subordinated to him until the crisis was met.

  3. a person who authoritatively prescribes conduct, usage, etc..

    a dictator of fashion.

  4. a person who dictates, as to a secretary.

dictator British  
/ dɪkˈteɪtə, dɪkˈteɪtrɪs, ˈdɪktətrɪks /

noun

    1. a ruler who is not effectively restricted by a constitution, laws, recognized opposition, etc

    2. an absolute, esp tyrannical, ruler

  2. (in ancient Rome) a person appointed during a crisis to exercise supreme authority

  3. a person who makes pronouncements, as on conduct, fashion, etc, which are regarded as authoritative

  4. a person who behaves in an authoritarian or tyrannical manner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • dictatress noun

Etymology

Origin of dictator

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dictātor, from dictā(re) “to say repeatedly, prescribe, order” ( dictate ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“After the dictator fell, gender expression should have been the natural extension of that kind of freedom. But there’s a kind of retaliation happening,” Zaalan shared.

From Los Angeles Times

According to experts who study the psychological profiles of strongmen dictators, escalation in such situations is the norm.

From Salon

The U.S. cooperated with Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, who offered military bases during the Cold War.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Only those nations ruled by kings or dictators display the image of their sitting ruler on the coins of the realm," he said.

From Barron's

“Only those nations ruled by kings or dictators display the image of their sitting ruler on the coins of the realm.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.