definitions

dictator

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

a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession.
(in ancient Rome) a person invested with supreme authority during a crisis, the regular magistracy being subordinated to him until the crisis was met.
a person who authoritatively prescribes conduct, usage, etc.: a dictator of fashion.
a person who dictates, as to a secretary.

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RELATED WORDS

tycoon, fascist, autocrat, commander, chief, tyrant, despot, boss, leader, adviser, magnate, disciplinarian, totalitarian, mogul, oppressor, authoritarian, ringleader, usurper, absolutist, oligarch

Nearby words

dicta, dictaphone, dictate, dictating machine, dictation, dictator, dictatorial, dictatorship, diction, dictionary, dictionary and thesaurus

Origin of dictator

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin dictātor, equivalent to dictā(re) (see dictate) + -tor -tor
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dictator

British Dictionary definitions for dictator

dictator

/ (dɪkˈteɪtə) /

noun

  1. a ruler who is not effectively restricted by a constitution, laws, recognized opposition, etc
  2. an absolute, esp tyrannical, ruler
(in ancient Rome) a person appointed during a crisis to exercise supreme authority
a person who makes pronouncements, as on conduct, fashion, etc, which are regarded as authoritative
a person who behaves in an authoritarian or tyrannical manner

Derived Forms

dictatress (dɪkˈteɪtrɪs) or dictatrix (ˈdɪktətrɪks), fem n
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012