Dictator Meaning
/dɪkˈteɪtə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA totalitarian leader of a country, nation, or government.
nounAn authoritarian leader of a country, nation, or government.
Sentence Examples
The notorious dictator abused his privileges to his heart's content.
The dictator had the absolute loyalty of all his aides.
He was known to be a cruel dictator.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ seized control of the government and abolished elections.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The notorious ____ abused his privileges to his heart's content.
Word Origin & History
From Latin dictātor (“a chief magistrate”), from dictō (“dictate, prescribe”), from dīcō (“say, speak”). By surface analysis, dictate + -or, literally “one who dictates”. Compare Old English tictator (“absolute ruler of the Roman Republic”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The Dominicans had lived for thirty years under the iron-fisted rule of dictator Leonidas Trujillo. During those years, which ended with Trujillo's assassination in 1961, those who opposed Trujillo had three choices: to go into exile, to go underground, or to remain quiet. Most Dominicans had chosen the third course."
— 1971, Lyndon Johnson, “A Time of Testing: Crises in the Caribbean”, in The Vantage Point, Holt, Reinhart & Winston, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 188:
"Dictator, noun : someone who doesn't let American CEOs dictate how their country is run"
— 2019, (Existential Comics), 29 January, 9:27 AM Tweet:
""The reason why Xi Jinping got very upset in terms of when I shot that balloon down with two box cars full of spy equipment in it was he didn't know it was there," Biden said.
"That's a great embarrassment for dictators. When they didn't know what happened. That wasn't supposed to be going where it was. It was blown off course," Biden said."
— 2023 June 21, Trevor Hunnicutt, Ryan Woo, quoting Joe Biden, “China hits back after Biden calls Xi a 'dictator'”, in Reuters, archived from the original on 22 Jun 2023:
"A monument to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin erected in Moscow's metro is stirring debate, with some Russians welcoming it as a historical tribute, but others saying it's a mistake to commemorate someone who presided over so much suffering."
— 2025 May 22, “Monument to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in Moscow metro stirs debate”, in Reuters:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ seized control of the government and abolished elections.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The notorious ____ abused his privileges to his heart's content.