Word
dictatorship
Phoneticsdic·ta·tor·ship, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪkˈteɪtɝˌʃɪp/
UK/dɪktˈeɪtəʃˌɪp/
Definitions
01government system
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a country or government ruled by a leader with total power.
n. a state or government under the absolute authority of an individual or a small group, often lacking democratic processes.
“The country suffered for decades under a brutal military dictatorship.”
“The transition from a long-standing dictatorship to a functioning democracy requires significant institutional reform and the restoration of civil liberties.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02absolute power
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the state of having total control over something.
n. the exercise of absolute sovereignty or autocratic rule within a specific context.
“The leader maintained a strict dictatorship over every aspect of national life.”
“The constitution was suspended, effectively establishing a dictatorship that bypassed all legislative oversight.”
Synonyms
03strict control in a group
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal · Humorous
n. a situation where one person in a group or family makes all the rules and does not listen to others.
n. the metaphorical application of autocratic control to a non-governmental organisation, household, or institution.
“My older brother ran the household like a dictatorship while our parents were away.”
“The office was managed as a benevolent dictatorship, where the founder made every minor decision without consulting the staff.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Rubens Paiva, a civil engineer and politician who was murdered by the military dictatorship in Brazil.” “After the end of the Franco dictatorship in 1975 , Almodóvar picked up thousands of underground followers in Madrid and Barcelona.” Etymology
From dictator + -ship.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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