caudillismo

American  

[kaw-dil-yiz-moh, ‑dee-yiz-, kou-thee-lyeez-maw, ‑thee-yeez-maw] / ˌkɔ dɪlˈyɪz moʊ, ‑diˈyɪz-, ˌkaʊ ðiˈlyiz mɔ, ‑ðiˈyiz mɔ /

noun

plural

caudillismos

1. a system of government by a caudillo.

2. a state or government in which a caudillo exercises absolute power.

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Etymology

Origin of caudillismo

First recorded in 1955–60; from Spanish; caudillo ( def. ) + suffix -ismo -ism ( def. )

Example Sentences

But in the Latin American tradition of caudillismo, institutions are useful only if they serve the leader.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

Two interconnected problems have confronted Latin American writers since the end of European colonialism — the often malign influence of the United States and the system of rule by authoritarian strongmen known as caudillismo.

From New York Times • Nov. 23, 2021