dictator

CEFRB2

/dɪkˈteɪtə/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A ruler with complete power over a country.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A magistrate without colleague in republican Ancient Rome, who held full executive authority for a term granted by the Senate, typically to conduct a war.

Examples

  • He was known to be a cruel dictator.

  • The dictator had the absolute loyalty of all his aides.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A tyrannical boss or authority figure.

  2. A totalitarian leader of a country, nation, or government.

  3. An authoritarian leader of a country, nation, or government.

More examples

In context

  • The notorious dictator abused his privileges to his heart's content.

  • Dictator, noun : someone who doesn't let American CEOs dictate how their country is run

  • 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.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank seized control of the government and abolished elections.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

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”).