dictatorship

/ˈdɪkteɪɾərʃɪp/

/dɪkˈteɪtəʃɪp/

Other forms: dictatorships

A dictatorship is a government or a social situation where one person makes all the rules and decisions without input from anyone else.

Dictatorship implies absolute power — one person who takes control — of a political situation, a family, a classroom or even a camping expedition. In government, a dictatorship leaves no room for input from anyone who is not the top guy or gal. The noun comes from the late 14th century Latin word, dictare, which means to "repeat or say often." In a dictatorship, one person keeps repeating the same command: "My way or the highway."

Definitions of dictatorship

1. noun

   a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
   synonyms: Caesarism, Stalinism, absolutism, authoritarianism, despotism, monocracy, one-man rule, shogunate, totalitarianism, tyranny

   types:

   police state

   a country that maintains repressive control over the people by means of police (especially secret police)

   type of:

   autarchy, autocracy

   a political system governed by a single individual