totalitarianism

noun
UK: /təʊˌtælɪˈteəriənɪzəm/
US: /toʊˌtæləˈteriənɪzəm/

  1. A political system in which the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

    1. Totalitarianism is a form of government with complete control.
    2. The rise of totalitarianism in the 20th century led to immense suffering for many.

  2. The political concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state authority.

    1. Citizens in that country fear the rise of totalitarianism.
    2. Some historians argue about the nature of totalitarianism in historical regimes.

Synonyms

dictatorship autocracy despotism
totalitarianism adjective

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

    1. It was a totalitarian regime.
    2. The totalitarian state controlled all aspects of the media and public expression.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "totalitarianism" in English means: A political system in which the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life., The political concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state authority..

The phonetic transcription of "totalitarianism" is /təʊˌtælɪˈteəriənɪzəm/ in British English and /toʊˌtæləˈteriənɪzəm/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "totalitarianism": dictatorship, autocracy, despotism.

Example usage of "totalitarianism": "Totalitarianism is a form of government with complete control.". More examples on the page.