authoritarian

Pronunciation: /əˌθɔrəˈtɛriən/ (American)

Origin: From French autoritaire, from Latin auctoritas meaning "authority"

Part of Speech: adjective, noun

Meanings:

1. (adj.) Favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom
2. (adj.) Expecting or requiring people to obey rules or laws without question
3. (noun) A person who favors or enforces strict obedience to authority

Example Sentences:

1. The authoritarian regime censored all forms of media that criticized the government.
2. Her authoritarian parenting style left little room for her children's independence.
3. Many authoritarians throughout history have used fear and propaganda to maintain power.

Related Words:

• Noun form: authoritarianism
• Adverb form: authoritarianly
• Synonyms: autocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian, despotic, tyrannical
• Antonyms: democratic, liberal, permissive

Memorization Trick: Think of "author" + "itarian." An authoritarian acts like the sole author of rules and expects others to follow without question, just as a strict author might dictate the plot of a story without input from others.