totalitarianism

[ toh-tal-i-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm ]

noun

1. the practices and principles of a totalitarian regime.
2. absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution.
3. the character or quality of an autocratic or authoritarian individual, group, or government:

   the totalitarianism of the father.

totalitarianism

1. Domination by a government of all political, social, and economic activities in a nation. Totalitarianism is a phenomenon of the twentieth century: earlier forms of despotism and autocracy lacked the technical capacity to control every aspect of life. The term is applied both to fascist governments ( see fascism ) and to many forms of communism .

Other Words From

• to·tali·tari·an·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of totalitarianism¹

First recorded in 1920–25; totalitarian + -ism

Example Sentences

“Liberalism has become consistently more aggressive in extending each of these features to their logical conclusion — their own contradiction in the form of liberal totalitarianism,” Deneen argues.

From Vox

Democracy is finished because they usher in totalitarianism.

From Washington Post

Other democratic nations — such as Britain with its impartiality rules — have long relied on similar content regulations without sliding into totalitarianism.

From Washington Post

The huge difference between those rulers and Napoleon comes down to one word: totalitarianism.

From The Daily Beast

I believe totalitarianism is a peculiarly 20th century idea.

From The Daily Beast

For Christopher, supporting the war was an expression of his anti-totalitarianism.

From The Daily Beast

It was the hundreds, thousands, of humanists from Russia and the Eastern bloc who fought totalitarianism.

From The Daily Beast

If young adults can handle erotic vampires and totalitarianism, surely they can stomach some more fictional blood.

From The Daily Beast

Government disclaimed any vague totalitarianism and instead clarified its zone of functioning through the use of law.

From Project Gutenberg

As the global democratic revolution has put totalitarianism on the defensive, we have left behind the days of retreat.

From Project Gutenberg

Almost 50 years ago, we began a long struggle against aggressive totalitarianism.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• authoritarianism
• autocracy
• despotism
• tyranny