dictatorship
noun
dic·ta·tor·ship
dik-ˈtā-tər-ˌship 
ˈdik-ˌtā-
1
: the office of dictator
2
: autocratic rule, control, or leadership
people suffering under his dictatorship
3
a
: a form of government in which absolute power is concentrated in a dictator or a small clique
… the statutory and constitutional constraints which distinguish a democracy from a dictatorship.—
Center for National Security Studies, et al. v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, 215 F.Supp.2d 94 (2002)
Center for National Security Studies, et al. v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, 215 F.Supp.2d 94 (2002)
b
: a government organization or group in which absolute power is so concentrated
rising up against a military dictatorship
c
: a despotic state
establishing a dictatorship
Examples of dictatorship in a Sentence
The country suffered for many years under his dictatorship.
His enemies accused him of establishing a dictatorship.
Recent Examples on the Web
Leo has been emphasizing a message of hope for youths in Spain, a once overwhelmingly Catholic country that experienced a religious crisis after its 20th century dictatorship ended and democracy took root.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Portugal is a good example—after the dictatorship ended in 1974, there was a push to modernize, and many traditional crafts weren’t passed down.
—Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
After a street fight, Carlos and Clavo forge a friendship on the outskirts of Santiago, shaped by soccer and dictatorship.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026
Newsrooms are not supposed to be run like dictatorships.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
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Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Portugal is a good example—after the dictatorship ended in 1974, there was a push to modernize, and many traditional crafts weren’t passed down.
—Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
After a street fight, Carlos and Clavo forge a friendship on the outskirts of Santiago, shaped by soccer and dictatorship.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026
Newsrooms are not supposed to be run like dictatorships.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dictatorship
Cite this Entry
“Dictatorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictatorship. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dictatorship
noun
dic·ta·tor·ship
dik-ˈtāt-ər-ˌship
ˈdik-ˌtāt-
1
: the office of a dictator
2
: rule, control, or leadership by one person with total power
3
: a government or country in which total power is held by a dictator or a small group
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