kleptocracy

American  

[klep-tok-ruh-see] / klɛpˈtɒk rə si /

noun

plural

kleptocracies

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

• kleptocrat noun
• kleptocratic adjective

Etymology

Origin of kleptocracy

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

Example Sentences

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

From Seattle Times

The United States has said the 1MDB case was its largest ever kleptocracy investigation.

From Reuters

“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

In 2015, when he was vice president, Mr. Biden pleaded with Ukraine’s parliament to stamp out “the pervasive poison of cronyism, corruption, and kleptocracy.”

From New York Times

Department of Justice has called it their biggest kleptocracy investigation.

From Reuters