despot

noun

des·​pot ˈde-spət 

-ˌspät

1

a

: a ruler with absolute power and authority

tyrannical despots

b

: one exercising power tyrannically : a person exercising absolute power in a brutal or oppressive way

regards the basketball coach as a despot

2

a

: a Byzantine emperor or prince

b

Christianity : a bishop or patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church

c

: an Italian hereditary prince or military leader during the Renaissance

Did you know?

In his 1755 dictionary, Samuel Johnson said of despot, "this word is not in use, except as applied to some Dacian prince; as the despot of Servia." Indeed at that time, the word was mainly used to identify some very specific rulers or religious officials, and the title was an honorable one: it comes from a Greek word meaning "lord" or "master." That situation changed toward the end of the 18th century, perhaps because French Revolutionists, who were said to have been "very liberal in conferring this title," considered all sovereigns to be tyrannical. Eventually, despot came to be used primarily for any ruler who wielded absolute and often contemptuous and oppressive power.

Synonyms

• caesar
• dictator
• führer
• fuehrer
• oppressor
• pharaoh
• strongman
• tyrannizer
• tyrant

Examples of despot in a Sentence

He was a successful basketball coach, but many people regarded him as a petty despot.

The company is run by a benevolent despot.

Recent Examples on the Web

In Eggers’ version, however, there is a broader conspiracy at play, which is why Orlok — a near-ringer for 15th century despot Vlad the Impaler — proffers a deceptive foreign-language contract, locks Thomas in his empty, decaying home and sets sail to be reunited with Ellen. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024

Freedom of the press and access to reliable information are pillars of democracy—freedoms which aspiring despots can manipulate to manufacture convenient new narratives, and rise to power. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024

Are these two giggling, sadistic despots — a double dose of Commodus, by the more-is-more arithmetic of sequels — the real villains of Gladiator II? —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024

As a leader of the opposition to these despots, Sirleaf survived imprisonment, exile, and an abusive husband. —Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French despote, from Greek despotēs master, lord, autocrat, from des- (akin to domos house) + -potēs (akin to posis husband); akin to Sanskrit dampati lord of the house — more at dome, potent

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

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Kids Definition

despot

noun

des·​pot ˈdes-pət 

-ˌpät

1

: a ruler with absolute power and authority

2

: a person who uses power in a cruel, unjust, or harmful way

despotic

des-ˈpät-ik

adjective

despotically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb