dictatorship

American  

[dik-tey-ter-ship, dik-tey-] / dɪkˈteɪ tərˌʃɪp, ˈdɪk teɪ- /

noun

1. a country, government, or the form of government in which absolute power is exercised by a dictator.

2. absolute, imperious, or overbearing power or control.

3. the office or position held by a dictator.

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dictatorship British  

/ dɪkˈteɪtəˌʃɪp /

noun

1. the rank, office, or period of rule of a dictator

2. government by a dictator or dictators

3. a country ruled by a dictator or dictators

4. absolute or supreme power or authority

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dictatorship Cultural  

1. Government by a single person or by a junta or other group that is not responsible to the people or their elected representatives.

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Discover More

Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin were dictators.

Etymology

Origin of dictatorship

First recorded in 1580–90; dictator + -ship

Compare meaning

How does dictatorship compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• fascism vs. dictatorship
• autocracy vs. dictatorship
• totalitarianism vs. dictatorship

Example Sentences

Spain this year marked 50 years since the death of General Francisco Franco, which ended his brutal 36-year dictatorship and initiated a complex path towards restoring democracy.

From Barron's

Jennifer, you play the title role in “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” a story set in Argentina during a military dictatorship.

From Los Angeles Times

It marks the biggest shift to the right since the end of Chile's military dictatorship in 1990.

From BBC

“The Secret Agent” really explores how brutal a dictatorship can be on regular people.

From Los Angeles Times

The Nobel Institute awarded Machado the Peace Prize this year for "her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy" in Venezuela.

From BBC

Related Words

• authoritarianism
• autocracy
• totalitarianism
• tyranny