totalitarian

adjective
UK: /təʊˌtælɪˈteəriən/
US: /toʊˌtælɪˈteriən/

  1. Relating to a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.

    1. It was a totalitarian regime, controlling every aspect of life.
    2. The book explores the dangers of totalitarian states and their impact on freedom.

Synonyms

authoritarian despotic dictatorial autocratic
totalitarian noun

  1. An advocate of a totalitarian system of government.

    1. He was labeled a totalitarian because of his extreme views.
    2. The totalitarian sought to impose strict control over every aspect of society.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "totalitarian" is /təʊˌtælɪˈteəriən/ in British English and /toʊˌtælɪˈteriən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "totalitarian": authoritarian, despotic, dictatorial, autocratic.

Example usage of "totalitarian": "It was a totalitarian regime, controlling every aspect of life.". More examples on the page.