n. A form of government in which the governing body has absolute, or almost absolute, control. Typically this control is maintained by force, and little heed is paid to public opinion or the judicial system.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
Word Usage
"The difference between authority and authoritarianism is similar to the difference between love and rape."