monocracy
noun
mo·noc·ra·cy mä-ˈnä-krə-sē 
mə-
: government by a single person
monocrat
ˈmä-nə-ˌkrat
noun monocratic
ˌmä-nə-ˈkra-tik
adjective 
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In society's search for the best kind of government, the suffix -cracy (which means "form of government" and traces to the Greek kratos, meaning "strength" or "power") has worn many hats. "Monocracy" pairs "-cracy" with a descendant of monos, meaning "alone" or "single." The suffix also underlies other governmental terms including "democracy" ("government by the people"), "aristocracy" ("government by a small privileged class"), "theocracy" ("government by divine guidance"), "ochlocracy" ("government by the mob"), and "gerontocracy" ("rule by elders").
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The Biden administration justified its decision — or no decision — with the tired old rationalizations and justifications that the U.S. has been using for years to give the medieval monocracy a pass on human rights violations. 
Ahmed Tharwat, Star Tribune, 1 Mar. 2021
Ahmed Tharwat, Star Tribune, 1 Mar. 2021 Word History
First Known Use
1606, in the meaning defined above
monocracy
noun
as in monarchy
a system of government in which there is only one ruler whose power is unlimited Until its dissolution in 1991, the Soviet Union operated under a monocracy. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- monarchy
- dictatorship
- monarchism
- tyranny
- authoritarianism
- autocracy
- totalitarianism
- despotism
- autarchy
- absolutism
- tsarism
- totalism
- tzarism
- Caesarism
- czarism
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- democracy
- freedom
- self-governance
- sovereignty
- self-rule
- self-government
- sovranty
- autonomy
- self-determination