Added 10 October 2026
despotism
/ˈdɛspətɪzəm/ noun
In Latin: despotismus Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about despotism at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Dominance through threat of punishment and violence.
- A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.).
Origin
From French despotisme; equivalent to despot + -ism.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)