praetorianism
[ pree-tawr-ee-uh-niz-uh m, -tohr- ]
/ priˈtɔr i əˌnɪz əm, -ˈtoʊr- /
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noun
the control of a society by force or fraud, especially when exercised through titular officials and by a powerful minority.
Nearby words
praetexta, praetor, praetorial, praetorian, praetorian guard, praetorianism, praetorians, praetorius, praetorius, michael, praetorship, prag
Origin of praetorianism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for praetorianism
If an autocracy does not rest on the army, which leads to the chaos of praetorianism, it must rely on 'panem et circenses.'
Outspoken Essays|William Ralph IngeThe evil fame of the Italian cohorts has survived in the phrase “praetorianism” used to imply a venal military despotism.