totalitarianism

American  

[toh-tal-i-tair-ee-uh-niz-uhm] / toʊˌtæl ɪˈtɛər i əˌnɪz əm /

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.

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totalitarianism Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• totalitarianist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of totalitarianism

First recorded in 1920–25; totalitarian + -ism

Compare meaning

How does totalitarianism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• fascism vs. totalitarianism
• totalitarianism vs. dictatorship

Explanation

If the government has complete and absolute power over the people, that's totalitarianism. This is a repressive, unfree type of society. A democracy is a society in which people have a say in their government and elect their leaders. The opposite is totalitarianism: a totalitarian society is usually ruled by a dictator, and there is very little or no freedom. In totalitarianism, the government controls almost every aspect of life. There is no free speech or freedom of the press: certain religions and ideas may be banned. George Orwell's novel 1984 was a brilliant look at a world of totalitarianism.

Example Sentences

This is from Hannah Arendt's "Origins of Totalitarianism":

From Salon • Nov. 14, 2024

Totalitarianism is a system of government that exercises complete control over its population in both personal and public life by eliminating free press and imposing censorship and mass surveillance, along with other social controls.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

Totalitarianism a system of government that exercises complete control over its people in terms of both their personal and their public lives.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

Totalitarianism seeks to obliterate the limits of law through the uninhibited exercise of power.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2021

It’s called “Surviving Autocracy,” and is her first book since “The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia,” winner of the National Book Award in 2017.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 21, 2020

Related Words

• authoritarianism
• autocracy
• despotism
• tyranny