kleptocracy

American  

[klep-tok-ruh-see] / klɛpˈtɒk rə si /

noun

kleptocracies plural

1. a government or state in which those in power exploit national resources and steal; rule by a thief or thieves.

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kleptocracy British  

/ ˌklɛpˈtɒkrəsɪ /

noun

1. informal a government where officials are politically corrupt and financially self-interested

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• kleptocrat
  noun
• kleptocratic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• kleptocracies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of kleptocracy

1815–20; klepto- (combining form of Greek kléptēs thief) + -cracy

Explanation

When the leaders of a country focus on becoming rich and powerful at the expense of its citizens, that country is a kleptocracy. In a true kleptocracy, ordinary citizens live in poverty as the government uses public funds for its own benefit, or to help friends and family members. Leaders in this kind of government often have luxurious lives, and ongoing corruption (including bribes and financial kickbacks) keeps them in power. Kleptocracy comes from Greek roots, kléptēs, "thief," and krátos, "power."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kleptocracy kleptocracies

Officials also cite outflows of personal fortunes belonging to connected Iranians, described as the spoils of classic kleptocracy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026

Justice Department once described as the “biggest kleptocracy case” ever.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 2, 2024

“It should be noted that the U.S. Department of Justice described the affair as ‘the largest kleptocracy case to date,’” the attorney general’s office said.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 25, 2023

This is the work of a new team within the NCA called K-Cell - the K stands for kleptocracy, which is when rulers use their power to steal their country's resources.

From BBC ● May 26, 2022

The remaining way for kleptocrats to gain public support is to construct an ideology or religion justifying kleptocracy.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

They deny siphoning off billions of dollars of state wealth while at the helm of what historians consider one of Asia's most notorious kleptocracies.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2022

And when it comes to kleptocracies, it will be very interesting to discover the reaction of visitors abroad to London's hospitality during the Olympics.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 1, 2012

“Compared to other kleptocracies, I don’t think the Mubaraks rank all that high,” says one Western envoy in Cairo, asking not to be named on a subject that remains highly sensitive.

From Newsweek ● Feb. 13, 2011

Those are the reasons why large societies cannot function with band organization and instead are complex kleptocracies.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond