noun
tyranny
TUH-ruh-nee
noun
1
Cruel and unjust rule by a single powerful leader or small group.
"The revolution finally put an end to decades of tyranny."
"Citizens lived in fear under the tyranny of the regime."
How to Use Tyranny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHarsh, unjust rule, or the system of government carried out by a tyrant.
Common pairings
live under tyranny
the tyranny of
Word Forms
tyrannies plural
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The revolution finally put an end to decades of _____.
Etymology
From Old French tyrannie, ultimately from the Greek word for the rule of an absolute ruler or tyrant.