dictatorship
noun
dic·ta·tor·ship
dik-ˈtā-tər-ˌship 
ˈdik-ˌtā-
1
: the office of dictator
2
: autocratic rule, control, or leadership
people suffering under his dictatorship
3
a
: a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique
Communism and dictatorship
b
: a government organization or group in which absolute power is so concentrated
rising up against a military dictatorship
c
: a despotic state
establishing a dictatorship
Examples of dictatorship in a Sentence
The country suffered for many years under his dictatorship.
His enemies accused him of establishing a dictatorship.
Recent Examples on the Web
The backdrop of the Marcos dictatorship shaped her artistic approach, defined by an interest in quotidian experience—including everyday injustices such as gender inequality and the ecological exploitation of the Philippines by greedy conglomerates.
—
Hung Duong, Artforum, 18 June 2025
This brings me back to the conclusion that the Venezuelan dictatorship — perhaps Latin America’s biggest potential winner of a global oil price hike — along with Colombia and Mexico may get, at best, a brief respite if the Iran war disrupts world oil shipping lanes.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
Newsom is a potential Democratic Party presidential nominee in 2028.
Democrats, partisan media and other critics of Trump are raising the spectre of diversion of our military from their proper constitutional roles, and even possible military dictatorship.
—Arthur Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
Most Third World states, for example, that were born as democracies lapsed into dictatorships or became autocratic shortly after independence.
—Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
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Hung Duong, Artforum, 18 June 2025
This brings me back to the conclusion that the Venezuelan dictatorship — perhaps Latin America’s biggest potential winner of a global oil price hike — along with Colombia and Mexico may get, at best, a brief respite if the Iran war disrupts world oil shipping lanes.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
Newsom is a potential Democratic Party presidential nominee in 2028.
Democrats, partisan media and other critics of Trump are raising the spectre of diversion of our military from their proper constitutional roles, and even possible military dictatorship.
—Arthur Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
Most Third World states, for example, that were born as democracies lapsed into dictatorships or became autocratic shortly after independence.
—Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictatorship. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dictatorship
noun
dic·ta·tor·ship
dik-ˈtāt-ər-ˌship
ˈdik-ˌtāt-
1
: the office of a dictator
2
: rule, control, or leadership by one person with total power
3
: a government or country in which total power is held by a dictator or a small group
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