idiocracy

noun

id·​i·​oc·​ra·​cy ˌi-dē-ˈä-krə-sē How to pronounce idiocracy (audio)
plural idiocracies
1
: a society governed or populated by idiots (see idiot sense 1)
Our nation is turning into an idiocracy.Neil deGrasse Tyson
2
: government by idiots (see idiot sense 1)
As we lurch toward idiocracy—the real thing, not the movie—we must change course.John Kass

Examples of idiocracy 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.
Nothing about the foolishness and outrageousness of what the movie shows us — no matter how virtuosically sliced and diced by McKay’s characteristically jittery editor, Hank Corwin — can really compete with the horrors of our real-world American idiocracy. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 10 Dec. 2021 Which brings us to America's idiocracy in 2021. Jeffrey Sachs, CNN, 20 July 2021 Of course, the idiocracy extends beyond West Virginia. Jeffrey Sachs, CNN, 20 July 2021 Stop pandering to the bottom 33% of idiocracy with titles like this. Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2023 McKay’s characteristically jittery editor, Hank Corwin — can really compete with the horrors of our real-world American idiocracy. Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2022 The American people, and the people of the world, deserve better than an American idiocracy. Jeffrey Sachs, CNN, 20 July 2021

Word History

Etymology

idio- (taken as combining form of idiot) + -cracy

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of idiocracy was in 1967

Dictionary Entries Near idiocracy

Cite this Entry

“Idiocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idiocracy. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

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