dictator

American  

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

noun

1. a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession.

2. (in ancient Rome) a person invested with supreme authority during a crisis, the regular magistracy being subordinated to him until the crisis was met.

3. a person who authoritatively prescribes conduct, usage, etc..

   a dictator of fashion.

4. a person who dictates, as to a secretary.

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dictator British  

/ dɪkˈteɪtə, dɪkˈteɪtrɪs, ˈdɪktətrɪks /

noun

1. 1. a ruler who is not effectively restricted by a constitution, laws, recognized opposition, etc

   2. an absolute, esp tyrannical, ruler

2. (in ancient Rome) a person appointed during a crisis to exercise supreme authority

3. a person who makes pronouncements, as on conduct, fashion, etc, which are regarded as authoritative

4. a person who behaves in an authoritarian or tyrannical manner

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Other Word Forms

• dictatress
  noun

Etymology

Origin of dictator

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dictātor, from dictā(re) “to say repeatedly, prescribe, order” ( see dictate) + -tor -tor

Explanation

A dictator is someone who has absolute power — or who at least behaves as if they do by bossing others around. In government, a dictator is a ruler who has total control over a country, with no checks or balances to prevent abuse of power. Dictator can also describe someone who acts like that on a smaller scale. When your sister is getting married and your mom makes her order roses instead lilies for the table arrangements and yells at you for addressing the invitations too slowly and insists that all of her coworkers be invited, she’s acting like a dictator.

Example Sentences

The dictator also recently boarded a warship to observe sea-to-surface cruise missiles.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

Current dictator and Castro heir Miguel Díaz-Canel said in an address to the nation last week that Cuba is in talks with Washington.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Hitler was a relatively rare name in Germany even before the dictator came to fame.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

French social media has been inundated with "humorous" posts about the battle between the late German dictator Adolf Hitler and Ukraine's modern-day hero Volodymyr Zelensky.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

This injustice rankled, and at that moment I saw Dr. Kerr less as a benefactor than as a not-altogether-benign dictator.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• authoritarian
• autocrat
• commander
• despot
• totalitarian
• tyrant