totalitarian

1 of 2

adjective

to·​tal·​i·​tar·​i·​an (ˌ)tō-ˌta-lə-ˈter-ē-ən How to pronounce totalitarian (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to centralized control by an autocratic leader or hierarchy : authoritarian, dictatorial
especially : despotic
b
: of or relating to a political regime based on subordination of the individual to the state and strict control of all aspects of the life and productive capacity of the nation especially by coercive measures (such as censorship and terrorism)
2
a
: advocating or characteristic of totalitarianism
b
: completely regulated by the state especially as an aid to national mobilization in an emergency
c
: exercising autocratic powers

totalitarian

2 of 2

noun

: an advocate or practitioner of totalitarianism

Examples of totalitarian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
King’s Running Man, published in 1982 and written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, was set in 2025 in an America under a totalitarian regime that uses violent game shows to placate the disenfranchised masses. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Oct. 2024 To Berman, fascists are totalitarian with the goal of not just controlling politics, but reshaping society and controlling the economy. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
Ridicule only appeals to cool kids on coasts and the college towns and totalitarians. Letters To The Editor, Orange County Register, 17 Oct. 2020 Under the unconditional patronage of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kadyrov rules his republic as a totalitarian, and has done so since taking power in May 2004, after his father, then President Akhmad Kadyrov, was assassinated. Layla Taimienova, Foreign Affairs, 10 May 2017 See all Example Sentences for totalitarian 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Italian totalitario, from totalità totality

First Known Use

Adjective

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of totalitarian was in 1926

Dictionary Entries Near totalitarian

Cite this Entry

“Totalitarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/totalitarian. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

totalitarian

adjective
to·​tal·​i·​tar·​i·​an
(ˌ)tō-ˌtal-ə-ˈter-ē-ən
: of or relating to a political system in which the government has complete control over the people
totalitarianism
-ē-ə-ˌniz-əm
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on totalitarian

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