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autocracy

American  
[aw-tok-ruh-see] / ɔˈtɒk rə si /

noun

PLURAL

autocracies

  1. government in which one person has uncontrolled or unlimited authority over others; the government or power of an absolute monarch.

  2. a nation, state, or community ruled by an autocrat.

  3. unlimited authority, power, or influence of one person in any group.

autocracy British  
/ ɔːˈtɒkrəsɪ /

noun

  1. government by an individual with unrestricted authority

  2. the unrestricted authority of such an individual

  3. a country, society, etc, ruled by an autocrat

"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
autocracy Cultural  

  1. A system of government in which supreme political power is held by one person. (Compare constitutional monarchy, democracy, and oligarchy.)

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Iraq under Saddam Hussein is an autocracy.

Etymology

Origin of autocracy

First recorded in 1645–55; from Greek autokráteia “power over oneself, sole power,” from autokrat(ḗs) autocrat + -eia -ia

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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.

Critics say the plan would irreparably weaken Israel’s system of checks and balances and lead the country toward autocracy.

From Seattle Times

Locking up former leaders on specious, politically driven charges may be common in the world’s autocracies, but some of the most advanced democracies have not shied away from putting their leaders on trial for crimes.

From New York Times

Biden frequently speaks of the U.S. and like-minded allies being at a critical moment in which democracies need to demonstrate they can out-deliver autocracies.

From Seattle Times

But Mr. Biden’s claim that autocracies have grown weaker faces a stark reality in some nations.

From New York Times

The overhaul would make Israel “more like elected autocracies” including Hungary and Turkey, Thomas Friedman argues in Times Opinion.

From New York Times

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.