Skip to main content

authoritarian — favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom

Pronunciation (IPA): /əˌθɔːrəˈteriən/

Example Sentences

  • My mom becomes totally authoritarian when it comes to cleaning my room - it's like living under a cute dictatorship!
  • The authoritarian principal banned everything fun: no phones, no snacks, and probably no breathing during class.
  • The country's transition from authoritarian rule to democracy took several decades.

authoritarian

ADJECTIVE

[/əˌθɔːrəˈteriən/]

favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom

a stern teacher with crossed arms towers over students who sit perfectly straight with their hands folded identically on their desks. The teacher points firmly at a student who immediately straightens up even more rigidly. All students wear identical expressions of nervous compliance and keep their eyes fixed forward. One student who started to turn their head quickly snaps back to face front when the teacher glares. The other students remain motionless in their seats, afraid to move or speak. favoring strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom
💡 Concept

a stern teacher with crossed arms towers over students who sit perfectly straight with their hands folded identically on their desks. The teacher points firmly at a student who immediately straightens up even more rigidly. All students wear identical expressions of nervous compliance and keep their eyes fixed forward. One student who started to turn their head quickly snaps back to face front when the teacher glares. The other students remain motionless in their seats, afraid to move or speak. favoring strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

Start FreeDemo

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/əˌθɔːrəˈteriən/
🇬🇧 UK/ɔːˌθɒrɪˈteəriən/

🌳Etymology

Rootauthor
Suffix--itarian

Origin

From Latin 'auctor' meaning creator or leader, which formed 'authority' (power to command), combined with the suffix '-arian' (believer in or advocate of). The word literally means 'one who believes in absolute authority.'

Breakdown

author- (from Latin auctor: leader/creator) + -itarian (suffix meaning believer in or advocate of a system)

🎵Rhyme

librarianvegetarianhumanitarian
librarian
vegetarian
humanitarian

🔗Collocations

authoritarian regime
authoritarian rule
authoritarian leader
authoritarian government
authoritarian control
authoritarian tendencies

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My mom becomes totally authoritarian when it comes to cleaning my room - it's like living under a cute dictatorship!”

😄 Fun example

“The authoritarian principal banned everything fun: no phones, no snacks, and probably no breathing during class.”

“The country's transition from authoritarian rule to democracy took several decades.”

“His authoritarian management style made employees afraid to suggest new ideas.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

dictatorialautocraticdespotictyrannicaloppressive

Antonyms

democraticliberalpermissive

Related

authoritytotalitarianfascistautocratdictator

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.

Start for Free60s Demo