noun
dictatorship
dihk-TAY-tuh-shihp
noun
1
A form of government in which one person or small group holds total, unchecked power.
"The country fell into a military dictatorship after the coup."
"Free elections ended decades of dictatorship."
2
Any situation or organization run with total, one-sided control.
"He joked that his boss ran the office like a dictatorship."
How to Use Dictatorship
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRule by one person or small group with total power and no real accountability.
Common pairings
military dictatorship
live under a dictatorship
Word Forms
dictatorships plural
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The country fell into a military _____ after the coup.
Etymology
Built from dictator + -ship, following the same pattern as "leadership" or "ownership."