dictatorship

noun

dic·​ta·​tor·​ship dik-ˈtā-tər-ˌship How to pronounce dictatorship (audio)
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
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 is quite an achievement for a film which is certainly not a popcorn movie, recording the real-life story of Eunice Pavia and her reinvention of herself and rebuilding of her family after her husband, Rubens Pavia, an opponent of Brazil’s military dictatorship, disappeared after arrest in 1971. John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Mar. 2025 The movie recounts the experiences of Eunice Paiva and her family after her husband Rubens Paiva was taken into custody during the country’s military dictatorship. Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025 By the way, this is the playbook used by the noxious dictatorships that Trump so admires. Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2025 That continued Sunday night at the 2025 Oscars, where the 59-year-old South America screen diva was nominated for best actress for her powerful performance as grieving mother of five whose politician husband has disappeared amid the darkest days of 1970s Brazil’s military dictatorship. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dictatorship

Word History

Etymology

dictator + -ship, as translation of Latin dictātūra

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dictatorship was in 1542

Cite this Entry

“Dictatorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictatorship. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

dictatorship

noun
dic·​ta·​tor·​ship dik-ˈtāt-ər-ˌship How to pronounce dictatorship (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on dictatorship

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