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Added 9 October 2026

autocrat

/ˈɔːtəkɹæt/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about autocrat at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An absolute ruler with infinite power.
A title borne by some such monarchs, as in Byzantium and tsarist Russia.
Until the 20th century, a favorable description of a ruler who was connected with the concept of lack of conflicts of interest and an indication of grandeur and power.

Origin

Borrowed from French autocrate, itself from Ancient Greek αὐτοκρατής (autokratḗs, “sovereign”), from αὐτο- (auto-, “self”) (combining form of αὐτός (autós)) + κράτος (krátos, “strength, power”) + -ης (-ēs). By surface analysis, auto- + -crat.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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