dictator

noun

DIK-tay-tur/ˈdɪkˌteɪtəɹ/UKdik-TAY-tuh/dɪkˈteɪtə/

Pluraldictators

3 meanings of dictator

1
nouncountable
A ruler who has total power over a country and is not chosen by the people.
Like a boss who makes all the rules and lets no one else decide anything.
The dictator banned every newspaper that criticized him.
People lived in fear of the dictator's secret police.
Similardespot, tyrant, autocrat, strongman
Note
2
nouncountable
A boss or person in charge who is very harsh and controls everything.
Like a teacher who lets no one speak and decides everything alone.
Their new manager was a real dictator about lunch breaks.
The coach acted like a dictator during every practice.
Similartyrant, despot, autocrat, martinet
3
nouncountable
In ancient Rome, a leader given full power for a short time, usually to fight a war.
Like a captain put fully in charge of a ship only until it reaches safe harbor.
The Romans chose a dictator to lead them when the war went badly.
As dictator, he gave up his power once the danger had passed.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin dictator, a chief magistrate, from dicto "dictate, prescribe" and dico "say, speak". It literally means "one who dictates".