kakistocracy
Americannoun
plural
kakistocraciesUsage
What does kakistocracy mean? A kakistocracy is a government in which the worst people are in charge.This obscure word is used in political commentary, especially to call out a government considered corrupt or incompetent.Example: If you don’t vote, you’re basically asking for a kakistocracy, because of course the worst people want to be in power.
Other Word Forms
- kakistocratical adjective
Etymology
Origin of kakistocracy
1820–30; < Greek kákisto ( s ), superlative of kakós bad + -cracy
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.
The Economist decided upon “kakistocracy” as its 2024 Word of the Year.
From Salon
A kakistocracy has a broad impact on society.
From Salon
He wonders whether these new colonies would become a kakistocracy.
From The Guardian
Kakistos is Greek for “worse,” so kakistocracy means government by the worst people.
From Seattle Times
Thus matters will go on, until universal anarchy, or kakistocracy, the government of the worst, is fully established.
From Project Gutenberg
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.
