authoritarian

adjective au·thor·i·tar·i·an \ȯ-ˌthär-ə-ˈter-ē-ən, ə-, -ˌthȯr-\

: expecting or requiring people to obey rules or laws : not allowing personal freedom

Full Definition of AUTHORITARIAN

: of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority <had authoritarian parents>

: of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people <an authoritarian regime>

— authoritarian noun

— au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism \-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm\ noun

See authoritarian defined for English-language learners

See authoritarian defined for kids

First Known Use of AUTHORITARIAN

1861

Related to AUTHORITARIAN

Synonyms: bossy, authoritative, autocratic (also autocratical), despotic, dictatorial, domineering, imperious, masterful, overbearing, peremptory, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous

Antonyms: clement, forbearing, gentle, indulgent, lax, lenient, tolerant

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with AUTHORITARIAN

abecedarian, Austro-Hungarian, communitarian, disciplinarian, documentarian, egalitarian, humanitarian, majoritarian, nonagenarian, octogenarian, parliamentarian, postmillenarian, premillenarian, predestinarian, sexagenarian, totalitarian, utilitarian, veterinarian

Learn More About AUTHORITARIAN

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "authoritarian"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "authoritarian"

Nglish: Translation of "authoritarian" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "authoritarian" for Arabic speakers

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: authoritativePrevious Word in the Dictionary: authorisationAll Words Near: authoritarian

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up authoritarian? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

View Seen & Heard Highlights from Around the Site