theocracy

[ thee-ok-ruh-see ]

noun

, plural the·oc·ra·cies.

1. a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God's or deity's laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities.
2. a system of government by priests claiming a divine commission.
3. a commonwealth or state under such a form or system of government.

theocracy

/ θɪˈɒkrəsɪ /

noun

1. government by a deity or by a priesthood
2. a community or political unit under such government

theocracy

1. A nation or state in which the clergy exercise political power and in which religious law is dominant over civil law. Iran led by the Ayatollah Khomeini was a theocracy under the Islamic clergy. ( See Islam .)

Derived Forms

• ˈtheoˌcrat, noun
• ˌtheoˈcratically, adverb
• ˌtheoˈcratic, adjective

Other Words From

• the·o·crat·ic [thee-, uh, -, krat, -ik], the·o·crat·i·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of theocracy¹

From the Greek word theokratía, dating back to 1615–25; theo-, -cracy

Example Sentences

The United States will be pushed toward a White “Christian” theocracy.

From Salon

Or will she find herself in a plutocratic theocracy ruled by ignorance and led by weak men who claim to be strong?

From Salon

He’s the conflicted architect of a militarized theocracy that took root in America after a second civil war where the Constitution did not prevail.

From Los Angeles Times

She reiterated that the nation's founders "never intended for this country to be a theocracy."

From Salon

We have people who are opposed to scientific knowledge about the world, and who are totally committed to fanatic ideas of theocracy, superstition and religion, that have nothing to do with reality.

From Salon

Related Words

• church-state
• hierocracy