Word

autocracy

noun C1

/ɔːˈtɒkɹəsi/

Meanings

noun

A system of government in which one person rules with absolute authority and limited accountability.

noun

A country or regime characterized by such one-person rule.

Definition

Autocracy is a system of government in which one person holds absolute power and makes decisions without meaningful checks.

Autocracy is a form of rule where political power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader. That leader can make major decisions with little or no oversight from courts, parliament, or elections. In an autocracy, opposition and independent institutions are often weakened or controlled.

Examples

After the coup, the new leadership drifted toward autocracy as parliament lost the power to challenge executive decisions.
I worry that autocracy becomes easier to accept when people feel exhausted by constant political conflict.
You can see the hallmarks of autocracy when independent courts are sidelined and the press is treated as an enemy.
She studied how autocracy survives by rewarding loyal insiders while isolating critics from public influence.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse autocracy with aristocracy or bureaucracy, but autocracy specifically means rule by one person.