Autocracy refers to a systeman organized way parts work together for a purpose of governmentthe group of people who control and run a country or rule in which one person holds the main power. It can also mean the idea that such unlimitednot restricted; having no set limits or boundaries rule is the best form of government.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /aw-TOK-ruh-see/
Easy pronunciation: aw-TOK-ruh-see (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on the second syllable: TOK.
Used here in the noun sense meaning government controlled by one leader.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Autocracy Meaning
government controlled by one leader
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A political system ruled by one person with supreme power.
Example: The country was run as an autocracy for decades.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- autarchy — A close dictionary synonym, but it is less common and can overlap with broader political terms.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Autocracy
Meaning 2
the belief that one person should have total political power
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A political theory that supports unlimited authority by a single individual.
Example: The pamphlet defended autocracy as the most stable form of rule.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Autocracy Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- autarchy
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using autocracy to mean any strong government, even when power is not held by one person.
- Confusing autocracy with democracy, where power is shared by the people or their representatives.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does autocracy mean in simple terms?
Autocracy means rule by one person, especially when that person has very strong or unlimited power.
What is a synonym for autocracy?
A close synonym is autarchy, though it is much less common.
Is autocracy the same as dictatorship?
They are very close in everyday use, but autocracy specifically means rule by one person, while dictatorship is a broader term for authoritarian rule.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
