autocracy

n. dictatorship, despotism, totalitarianism

An autocracy is a form of government in which the political power is held by a single self appointed ruler, usually a dictator. The term autocrat is derived from the Greek word autokratôr (lit. "self-ruler", or to: "rule by one's self"). Compare with oligarchy (literally means rule by the few) and democracy (rule by the people).
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Noun
1. a political system governed by a single individual
(synonym) autarchy
(antonym) democracy, republic, commonwealth
(hypernym) political system, form of government
(hyponym) monarchy
2. a political theory favoring unlimited authority by a single individual
(hypernym) political orientation, ideology, political theory
(hyponym) Machiavellianism

(n.)
The action of the vital principle, or of the instinctive powers, toward the preservation of the individual; also, the vital principle.
  

(n.)
Supreme, uncontrolled, unlimited authority, or right of governing in a single person, as of an autocrat.
  

(n.)
Political independence or absolute sovereignty (of a state); autonomy.
  

(n.)
Independent or self-derived power; absolute or controlling authority; supremacy.
  

A system of government in which supreme political power to direct all the activities of the state is concentrated in the hands of one person, whose decisions are subject to neither external legal restraints or nor regularized mechanisms of popular control (except perhaps for the implicit threat of coup d'etat or mass insurrection).
[See also: dictatorship , totalitarianism , fascism ]