theocratic

American  

[thee-uh-krat-ik] / ˌθi əˈkræt ɪk /

Rarely theocratical

adjective

1. having to do with theocracy, a form of government based on a specific religion or deity.

   If government and religion are not actively kept separate, it follows that the government is theocratic to a degree.

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Other Word Forms

• nontheocratic
  adjective
• nontheocratical
  adjective
• nontheocratically
  adverb
• theocratically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of theocratic

First recorded in 1685–95; from Greek theokrat(ía) ( see theocracy ( def. )) + -ic ( def. )

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Explanation

Things that are theocratic are ruled by leaders who claim their authority comes from a god. Churches are typically theocratic organizations — and so are some governments. When a government is theocratic, you can also call it a theocracy. You might see some similarities between the words theocratic and democratic. Both are ways to rule or govern, from the Greek roots theo-, "God," and dēmos, "the people." In a democratic society, the people rule, and in a theocratic regime, God (or those claiming to speak for God) rules.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

theocratic

Iran’s remaining Jewish community has gradually grown more Orthodox, say people familiar with it, which some say has won it a degree of respect from the theocratic regime.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

The historical parallel here is the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war that allowed the Islamic Republic to eliminate rivals at home and consolidate the theocratic regime, he added.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

“The Iranians seem to be stiffening,” Banks said, arguing that Iran’s long-held theocratic government “won’t be replaced overnight.”

From Salon ● Mar. 10, 2026

Iran's theocratic system has been in place since the 1979 revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini that ousted the largely pro-Western shah.

From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026

Norte Chico chiefdoms were almost certainly theocratic, though not brutally so; leaders induced followers to obey by a combination of ideology, charisma, and skillfully timed positive reinforcement.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

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