autocracy

noun

au·​toc·​ra·​cy ȯ-ˈtä-krə-sē How to pronounce autocracy (audio)
plural autocracies
Synonyms of autocracynext
1
: the authority or rule of an autocrat
2
: government in which one person possesses unlimited power
3
: a community or state governed by autocracy

Synonyms

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Examples of autocracy in a Sentence

the Magna Carta is historically important because it signified the British rejection of autocracy and constituted the first formal restraining of the power of the monarch
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That game-changing support almost certainly won’t come from the United States, which under President Donald Trump is rapidly aligning itself with Russia and other autocracies. — David Axe, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 Some are pushing back against the Trump administration’s efforts to gut federal programs and fears about an autocracy in America. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025 Ukraine’s war has become a global proxy war, pitting the advanced democracies that support Kyiv against the Eurasian autocracies that back Moscow. — Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025 The relationship between democracy and autocracy is a spectrum, not a binary; for example, countries like Venezuela, Nicaragua, Turkey and Hungary still hold elections, but their leaders aren't held meaningfully accountable by them (or by other mechanisms like the courts). — Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for autocracy

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "self-control," borrowed from Greek autokrateîa "self-control, power over oneself," from autokratḗs "ruling by itself (of a mind), with sole authority (for a task)" + -ia -y entry 2 — more at autocrat

Note: The word acquired the present meaning under the influence of Latin autocratōr (from about the fifth century on) and Greek autokrátōr, meaning "with sole authority," and later by association with autocrat. See note at autocrat.

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of autocracy was in 1659

Rhymes for autocracy

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Cite this Entry

“Autocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autocracy. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

autocracy

noun
au·​toc·​ra·​cy ȯ-ˈtäk-rə-sē How to pronounce autocracy (audio)
plural autocracies
: government in which one person has unlimited power

More from Merriam-Webster on autocracy

Nglish: Translation of autocracy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about autocracy

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