dictator
/dɪkˈteɪtə/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: dictators
Sense 1
Meaning · English
An authoritarian leader of a country, nation, or government.
Noun
Examples
The Dominicans had lived for thirty years under the iron-fisted rule of dictator Leonidas Trujillo. During those years, which ended with Trujillo's assassination in 1961, those who opposed Trujillo had three choices: to go into exile, to go underground, or to remain quiet. Most Dominicans had chosen
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A magistrate without colleague in republican Ancient Rome, who held full executive authority for a term granted by the Senate, typically to conduct a war.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “dictator” mean?
An authoritarian leader of a country, nation, or government.
Is “dictator” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.