dictatorship
UK: dɪkˈteɪtəʃɪp | US: ˈdɪkteɪtərʃɪp
n. a system of government where absolute power is held by one person or a small group
n. the office or tenure of a dictator
n. oppressive or domineering control in any context
The word "dictatorship" combines "dictator," derived from Latin dictator (originally a Roman magistrate with temporary absolute authority, from dictare "to dictate or declare"), and the suffix "-ship," from Old English -scipe (meaning "state, condition, or office"). The term evolved from its neutral Roman political context to its modern negative connotation of oppressive rule, reflecting historical shifts in governance and power dynamics.
The country suffered under a brutal dictatorship for decades.
He criticized the company's management style as a form of corporate dictatorship.
Ancient Rome occasionally appointed a dictator during emergencies.
The revolution aimed to overthrow the military dictatorship.
Scholars debate whether authoritarian regimes always evolve into dictatorships.