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totalitarianism — A system of government in which the state holds total control over all aspects of public and private life, and political opposition is not permitted.

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: A system of government in which the state holds total control over all aspects of public and private life, and political opposition is not permitted.

Pronunciation (IPA): /toʊˌtæləˈtɛriəˌnɪzəm/

Example Sentences

  • My mom's rule about my phone is basically totalitarianism—she checks every single text!
  • George Orwell's novel '1984' is a famous warning against totalitarianism.
  • The professor explained how totalitarianism differs from ordinary dictatorship.

totalitarianism

NOUN

[/toʊˌtæləˈtɛriəˌnɪzəm/]

A system of government in which the state holds total control over all aspects of public and private life, and political opposition is not permitted.

Under totalitarianism, one giant portrait watches every citizen in the square.
💡 Concept

Under totalitarianism, one giant portrait watches every citizen in the square.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/toʊˌtæləˈtɛriəˌnɪzəm/
🇬🇧 UK/təʊˌtælɪˈteəriənɪzəm/

🌳Etymology

Roottot(al)
Suffix--itarianism

Origin

From Italian 'totalitario', derived from Latin 'totus' meaning 'whole' or 'entire', first used to describe Mussolini's fascist regime in the 1920s.

Breakdown

tot- (whole, entire) + -al (adjective suffix) + -itarian (relating to, believing in) + -ism (system, doctrine)

🎵Rhyme

authoritarianism
humanitarianism

🔗Collocations

rise of totalitarianism
combat totalitarianism
totalitarianism spreads
under totalitarianism
form of totalitarianism
resist totalitarianism

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My mom's rule about my phone is basically totalitarianism—she checks every single text!”

“George Orwell's novel '1984' is a famous warning against totalitarianism.”

“The professor explained how totalitarianism differs from ordinary dictatorship.”

😄 Fun example

“In some video games, players build a totalitarian society to win, which feels oddly satisfying.”

📚Related Words

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