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 accusations, laid out in a 272-page indictment, suggest that Brazil came strikingly close to plunging back into, in effect, a military dictatorship nearly four decades into its modern democracy.
—
Jack Nicas, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Torres’ portrayal of Eunice Paiva, a mother who spent decades searching for justice after the disappearance of her husband during Brazil’s military dictatorship, has resonated with audiences and critics alike.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025
Similarly, the republican leadership of the French Revolution fell to Napoleon Bonaparte's dictatorship when its own leaders, such as Paul Barras, were exposed to be more interested in enriching themselves than in running the country.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
The breakdown of democracy in the United States will not give rise to a classic dictatorship in which elections are a sham and the opposition is locked up, exiled, or killed.
—Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
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Jack Nicas, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Torres’ portrayal of Eunice Paiva, a mother who spent decades searching for justice after the disappearance of her husband during Brazil’s military dictatorship, has resonated with audiences and critics alike.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025
Similarly, the republican leadership of the French Revolution fell to Napoleon Bonaparte's dictatorship when its own leaders, such as Paul Barras, were exposed to be more interested in enriching themselves than in running the country.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
The breakdown of democracy in the United States will not give rise to a classic dictatorship in which elections are a sham and the opposition is locked up, exiled, or killed.
—Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
Articles Related to dictatorship
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictatorship. Accessed 2 Mar. 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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