dictator

American  

[dik-tey-ter, dik-tey-ter] / ˈdɪk teɪ tər, dɪkˈteɪ tər /

noun

1. a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession.

2. (in ancient Rome) a person invested with supreme authority during a crisis, the regular magistracy being subordinated to him until the crisis was met.

3. a person who authoritatively prescribes conduct, usage, etc..

   a dictator of fashion.

4. a person who dictates, as to a secretary.

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dictator British  

/ dɪkˈteɪtə, dɪkˈteɪtrɪs, ˈdɪktətrɪks /

noun

1. 1. a ruler who is not effectively restricted by a constitution, laws, recognized opposition, etc

   2. an absolute, esp tyrannical, ruler

2. (in ancient Rome) a person appointed during a crisis to exercise supreme authority

3. a person who makes pronouncements, as on conduct, fashion, etc, which are regarded as authoritative

4. a person who behaves in an authoritarian or tyrannical manner

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Other Word Forms

• dictatress
  noun

Etymology

Origin of dictator

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dictātor, from dictā(re) “to say repeatedly, prescribe, order” ( see dictate) + -tor -tor

Explanation

A dictator is someone who has absolute power — or who at least behaves as if they do by bossing others around. In government, a dictator is a ruler who has total control over a country, with no checks or balances to prevent abuse of power. Dictator can also describe someone who acts like that on a smaller scale. When your sister is getting married and your mom makes her order roses instead lilies for the table arrangements and yells at you for addressing the invitations too slowly and insists that all of her coworkers be invited, she’s acting like a dictator.

Example Sentences

Dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990 and threatened to roll into Saudi Arabia, seeking control of nearly a third of the world’s proven oil reserves.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

To investigate, the researchers recruited 44 participants and asked them to make 540 decisions in a Dictator Game -- offering to split an amount of money with someone else, which they then got to keep.

From Science Daily • Feb. 13, 2026

"I agonised over it," says Prof Turi King within the first few minutes of Saturday's Channel 4 documentary on the research, Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025

“They’re sticking their heads out of the roof like they’re going to Dictator Prom,” Jimmy Fallon said.

From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2024

Dictator or not, she’s not gonna make me dance.

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• authoritarian
• autocrat
• commander
• despot
• totalitarian
• tyrant