TOP

Definition of dictator noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dictator

noun
 
 
/dɪkˈteɪtə(r)/
 
/ˈdɪkteɪtər/
(disapproving)
jump to other results
  1.  
    a political leader who has complete power over a country, especially one who has gained it using military force
    • The country suffered at the hands of a series of military dictators.
    Extra Examples
    • The country has long been ruled by a fascist dictator.
    • He was seen by many as a benevolent dictator.
    Topics Politicsc1
  2. a person who behaves as if they have complete power over other people, and tells them what to do
    • Her father was a dictator and the whole family was afraid of him.
    3. Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin, from dictat- ‘dictated’, from the verb dictare.
See dictator in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee dictator in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: dictator

Nearby words

alloy
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Physics and chemistry
C2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day