theocracy

noun

the·​oc·​ra·​cy thē-ˈä-krə-sē 

plural theocracies

1

: government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided

2

: a state governed by a theocracy

Examples of theocracy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since 2017, sporadic protests have challenged the theocracy over soaring prices of basic necessities, repression and imprisonment of dissidents, and women’s personal rights. —Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2024

The economy is at its lowest point since the 1979 Revolution that brought the theocracy to power. —Kay Armin Serjoie, TIME, 16 Dec. 2024

For Israel, Russia, the United States, and other leading powers, these revelations confirmed that the theocracy was developing the infrastructure to acquire nuclear arms and potentially transfer them to its surrogates and partners. —Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024

Many in the region are asking: could the Islamic theocracy in Iran, reviled by its people and a cancer upon the world, be next? —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek theokratia, from the- + -kratia -cracy

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

theocracy

noun

the·​oc·​ra·​cy thē-ˈäk-rə-sē 

plural theocracies

1

: government of a country by officials believed to have divine guidance

2

: a country governed by a theocracy