autocratic

adjective

au·​to·​crat·​ic ˌȯ-tə-ˈkra-tik 

variants or less commonly autocratical

ˌȯ-tə-ˈkra-ti-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or being an autocracy : absolute

an autocratic government

2

: characteristic of or resembling an autocrat : despotic

an autocratic ruler

autocratically

ˌȯ-tə-ˈkra-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Autos in Greek means "same" or "self", so in an autocratic government all the power is held by the leader him- or herself. Autocratic governments are often called dictatorships, or sometimes autocracies. In everyday life, a teacher, a parent, or a football coach can all behave like autocrats as well.

Synonyms

• absolute
• arbitrary
• czarist
• tsarist
• tzarist
• despotic
• dictatorial
• monocratic
• tyrannical
• tyrannic
• tyrannous

Examples of autocratic in a Sentence

democracy is supposed to protect the people against the rise of autocratic rulers

an autocratic Boy Scout leader who is under the delusion that he's still an army colonel

Recent Examples on the Web

During the visit, Xi has nodded to traditional European centers of power such as France and the European Union — but also laid heavy emphasis on deepening ties with autocratic allies on the continent’s fringe. —Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024

By Charlie Campbell May 2, 2024 8:13 AM EDT As a vocal backer of Bangladesh’s autocratic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Zahid Maleque’s five years as Minister of Health and Family Welfare weren’t without controversy. —Charlie Campbell, TIME, 2 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

autocrat + -ic entry 1, in part after French autocratique

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

autocratic

adjective

au·​to·​crat·​ic ˌȯt-ə-ˈkrat-ik 

: of, relating to, or resembling autocracy or an autocrat

autocratically

-ˈkrat-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb