despotism

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

Government by a despot or despots: rule by a singular authority, either a single person or a tight-knit group, which rules with absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way.

/ˈdɛspətɪzəm/ en-us-despotism.ogg

despotism despotisms

From French despotisme; equivalent to despot + -ism.

absolutism autocracy dictatorship tyranny

despot despotate despotic

enlightened despotism

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