English Explanatory Dictionary

dictator

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A totalitarian leader of a country, nation, or government.
  2. A magistrate without colleague in republican Ancient Rome, who held full executive authority for a term granted by the Senate, typically to conduct a war.
  3. A tyrannical boss or authority figure.
  4. Misspelling of dictater.

Pronunciation

/dɪkˈteɪtə/ /ˈdɪkˌteɪtəɹ/ [-ɾəɹ] /ˌdɪkˈteɪtəɹ/ En-us-dictator.ogg

Word forms

dictator dictators dictatour

Etymology

From Latin dictātor (“a chief magistrate”), from dictō (“dictate, prescribe”), from dīcō (“say, speak”). By surface analysis, dictate + -or, literally “one who dictates”. Compare Old English tictator (“absolute ruler of the Roman Republic”).

Related words

dictate dictatorial dictatorship dictatrix

Derived words

antidictator benevolent dictator for life dictatoress dictatorless dictatorlike dictatress petro-dictator quasi-dictator tin-pot dictator tinpot dictator
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