Word

kleptocracy

noun C1

UK /klɛpˈtɒkrəsi/

US /klɛpˈtɑːkrəsi/

Meanings

noun

A government or political system run by people who steal public wealth for themselves.

Definition

A kleptocracy is a system of government in which those in power steal public money and resources for personal gain.

A kleptocracy is a country or political system where leaders use their positions to enrich themselves. Instead of serving the public, they divert state funds, contracts, and natural resources to private pockets. This often leads to weak institutions, corruption, and widespread mistrust of government.

Examples

After years of investigative reporting, the administration was widely described as a kleptocracy that treated the national budget like a private account.
In our seminar, we compared how a kleptocracy and a functioning democracy handle public procurement and oversight.
She refused the consultancy offer because she did not want her work to legitimize a kleptocracy abroad.
They argued that the sudden mansion boom in the capital was a visible symptom of kleptocracy rather than genuine economic growth.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse "kleptocracy" with "bureaucracy" or "autocracy"; it specifically emphasizes leaders stealing public wealth.