Word
totalitarian
Phoneticsto·tal·i·tar·i·an
US/ˌtoʊˌtæɫɪˈtɛɹiən/
UK/təʊtˌælɪtˈeəɹiən/
Definitions
01total state control
adj. describing a political system where the state has absolute power and controls all parts of society, including private life.
adj. relating to a centralized government that does not tolerate parties of differing opinion and exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life.
“The novel describes a totalitarian society where even thoughts are monitored by the government.”
“Historians often compare the various totalitarian regimes of the twentieth century to understand how they maintained absolute social and political control.”
Academic
Usage
Usually precedes the noun it modifies, such as 'regime', 'state', or 'system'.
Teaching tip
While similar to 'authoritarian', 'totalitarian' is stronger, implying the state seeks to control the very thoughts and private lives of its citizens.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a supporter of such a system
n. a person who believes in or supports a government with total control.
n. an advocate or practitioner of totalitarianism.
“The political philosopher was accused of being a secret totalitarian.”
“The essay examines how a former totalitarian adapted to the new democratic institutions after the revolution.”
Academic · Formal
Usage
Used as a countable noun.
Teaching tip
This noun form is much less common than the adjective; learners will typically encounter the adjective form in political science contexts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Jumpsuited Thought Police patrol a towering set made of rusty scaffolding, amid blaring industrial noise and plunges into blackout darkness: the staging of totalitarian Oceania is as nightmarish as you’d expect.” “Russia’s increasingly close embrace of totalitarian North Korea has raised eyebrows even in Moscow.” “Many Italians see themselves in Andrea Bajani’s latest novel, a portrayal of the family as a “little totalitarian system” shaped by psychological and physical violence.” Etymology
From Italian totalitario (“complete, absolute, totalitarian”) + -an. Equivalent to totality + -arian.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/totalitarian