autocrat

[aw-tuh-krat]

noun

1. an absolute ruler, especially a monarch who holds and exercises the powers of government as by inherent right, not subject to restrictions.

2. a person invested with or claiming to exercise absolute authority.

3. a person who behaves in an authoritarian manner; a domineering person.

autocrat

/ ˈɔːtəˌkræt /

noun

1. a ruler who possesses absolute and unrestricted authority

2. a domineering or dictatorial person

Word History and Origins

Origin of autocrat¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; from Greek autokratḗs “self-ruling, ruling alone,” from auto- auto- ¹ + krát(os) “power” + -ēs, adjective suffix

Example Sentences

“Before the eyes of the world,” he said, “Brazil sent a message to all would-be autocrats and those who support them. Our democracy and our sovereignty are nonnegotiable.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bangladesh made impressive economic gains on Ms. Hasina’s watch, but many of her compatriots came to see her as a corrupt autocrat bent on holding power at any cost.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Successful autocrats convince broad swaths of the public that the nation is in a crisis so great that democracy must be sacrificed to save them.

Read more on Salon

Firebrand newspaper proprietor and independent presidential candidate Ralph Volcere has used his weekly publication to denounce the priest-president as a self-serving autocrat – and has since been banished from State House press calls.

Read more on BBC

Which is why autocrats always go after comedians pretty early on.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• despot 
• tyrant