autocracy
noun
au·toc·ra·cy
ȯ-ˈtä-krə-sē 
plural autocracies
1
: the authority or rule of an autocrat
2
: government in which one person possesses unlimited power
3
: a community or state governed by autocracy
Synonyms
Examples of autocracy in a Sentence
the Magna Carta is historically important because it signified the British rejection of autocracy and constituted the first formal restraining of the power of the monarch
Recent Examples on the Web
They are being overrun by autocracies around the world.
—
Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
In a sense, one version of this autocracy is replaced with another — and nothing changes much for the people who live at the whims of the ruling class.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2024
Last May, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey handily secured another term as head of state, shattering the morale of the political opposition and raising fears among his critics that his hold on the government would enable him to further edge Turkey toward autocracy.
—Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The Eurasian autocracies are united by illiberal governance and hostility to U.S. power.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024
Wartime creates its own logic of expediency; the same is true for late-stage autocracies obsessed with their survival.
—Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, Russia’s defense technology relationships with other Eurasian autocracies are flourishing.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024
The raw power grab that excites Lady Macbeth and incites her husband to regicide feels especially pertinent now, when the dangers of autocracy loom over political discussions.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Such division would push the troublesome two-state solution off the global agenda and allow Israel to focus on regional alliances with like-minded Arab autocracies that also feared Iran.
—Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024
Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
In a sense, one version of this autocracy is replaced with another — and nothing changes much for the people who live at the whims of the ruling class.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2024
Last May, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey handily secured another term as head of state, shattering the morale of the political opposition and raising fears among his critics that his hold on the government would enable him to further edge Turkey toward autocracy.
—Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024
The Eurasian autocracies are united by illiberal governance and hostility to U.S. power.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024
Wartime creates its own logic of expediency; the same is true for late-stage autocracies obsessed with their survival.
—Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2024
Meanwhile, Russia’s defense technology relationships with other Eurasian autocracies are flourishing.
—Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2024
The raw power grab that excites Lady Macbeth and incites her husband to regicide feels especially pertinent now, when the dangers of autocracy loom over political discussions.
—Peter Marks, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Such division would push the troublesome two-state solution off the global agenda and allow Israel to focus on regional alliances with like-minded Arab autocracies that also feared Iran.
—Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'autocracy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Autocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autocracy. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
autocracy
noun
au·toc·ra·cy
ȯ-ˈtäk-rə-sē
plural autocracies
: government in which one person has unlimited power
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