dictatorship
/ˈdɪktæɪtəʃɪp/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: dictatorships
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A type of government where absolute sovereignty is allotted to an individual or a small clique.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A government which exercises autocratic rule.
Noun
Examples
There were no elections during Franco's dictatorship.
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).
Common questions
What does “dictatorship” mean?
A type of government where absolute sovereignty is allotted to an individual or a small clique.
Is “dictatorship” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.