adj
authoritarian
aw-thor-ih-TEH-uh-reern
adj
1
Demanding strict obedience and control, at the expense of individual freedom.
"The country slid into an authoritarian regime after the coup."
noun
1
A person who demands total obedience or a leader who rules with strict control.
"Critics accused the new president of being an authoritarian."
How to Use Authoritarian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRuling — or behaving — with strict, top-down control and little tolerance for dissent.
Common pairings
authoritarian regime
authoritarian rule
authoritarian leader
Word Forms
more authoritarian comparative, authoritarians plural, most authoritarian superlative
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The country slid into an _____ regime after the coup.
Etymology
From authority plus the suffix -arian, first used around 1880.