authoritarian
[ uh-thawr-i-tair-ee-uhn, uh-thor- ]
/ əˌθɔr ɪˈtɛər i ən, əˌθɒr- /
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adjective
favoring complete obedience or subjection to authority as opposed to individual freedom: authoritarian principles; authoritarian attitudes.
of or relating to a governmental or political system, principle, or practice in which individual freedom is held as completely subordinate to the power or authority of the state, centered either in one person or a small group that is not constitutionally accountable to the people.
exercising complete or almost complete control over the will of another or of others: an authoritarian parent.
noun
a person who favors or acts according to authoritarian principles.
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Origin of authoritarian
First recorded in 1875–80; authorit(y) + -arian
OTHER WORDS FROM authoritarian
au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism, nounan·ti·au·thor·i·tar·i·an, adjectivean·ti·au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism, nounnon·au·thor·i·tar·i·an, adjectiveWords nearby authoritarian
authigenic, author, author catalog, authoress, authoring, authoritarian, authoritarian personality, authoritative, authority, authority control, authority figure
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for authoritarian
British Dictionary definitions for authoritarian
authoritarian
/ (ɔːˌθɒrɪˈtɛərɪən) /
adjective
favouring, denoting, or characterized by strict obedience to authority
favouring, denoting, or relating to government by a small elite with wide powers
despotic; dictatorial; domineering
noun
a person who favours or practises authoritarian policies
Derived forms of authoritarian
authoritarianism, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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