autocracy

From auto- +‎ -cracy, from Ancient Greek αὐτοκρατία (autokratía, “A system of government by one person with absolute power.”), from αὐτός (autós, “single, self, same, alone”) + κράτος (krátos, “power”) + -ία (-ía, “feminine abstract nouns suffix”); see also Ancient Greek αὐτοκρατής (autokratḗs, “one who governs alone”).

• IPA^(key): /ɔːˈtɒkɹəsi/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒkɹəsi

autocracy (countable and uncountable, plural autocracies)

1. (uncountable) A form of government in which unlimited power is held by a single individual.
   • 2022 December 1, John Avlon, “Opinion: The tide is turning against autocracy”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     I want to be clear: This shift toward democracy and away from autocracy is no reason to break out the “mission accomplished” banner.

2. (countable) An instance of this government.
   • 2022 December 1, John Avlon, “Opinion: The tide is turning against autocracy”, in CNN‎^[2]:

     The will of the people of Ukraine to defend their democracy is a reminder that autocracies cannot ultimately overcome free people willing to defend their liberty.

   • 2025 May 9, Cameron Joseph, “They’ve watched democracies fail. They see it happening under Trump.”, in The Christian Science Monitor:

     Among those who study authoritarian regimes, a consensus has emerged that [US president Donald Trump's] early moves display common characteristics of burgeoning autocracies.

• (rule): See Thesaurus:government

• → Malay: autokrasi