totalitarianism

to·tal·i·tar·i·an  (t-tl-târ-n)

adj.

Of, relating to, being, or imposing a form of government in which the political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of life, the individual is subordinated to the state, and opposing political and cultural expression is suppressed: "A totalitarian regime crushes all autonomous institutions in its drive to seize the human soul" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.)

n.

A practitioner or supporter of such a government.

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[total + (author)itarian.]

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to·tali·tari·an·ism n.

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totalitarianism

1. a system of highly centralized government in which one political party or group takes control and grants neither recognition nor tolerance to other political groups.
2. autocracy in one of its several varieties.
3. the character or traits of an autocratic or authoritarian individual, party, government, or state. — totalitarian, n., adj.

See also: Government

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	totalitarianism - a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) dictatorship, monocracy, one-man rule, shogunate, Stalinism, tyranny, authoritarianism, Caesarism, despotism, absolutism autocracy, autarchy - a political system governed by a single individual police state - a country that maintains repressive control over the people by means of police (especially secret police)
	2.	totalitarianism - the principle of complete and unrestricted power in government totalism, absolutism ideology, political orientation, political theory - an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation