theocracy
2 synonyms and 2 antonyms for theocracy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A system of government in which religious leaders rule in the name of a god, and religious law is the law of the state.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
religious rule
hierocracy
Antonyms
secular state
secularism
How to use theocracy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
slide into theocracy
an Islamic theocracy
theocracy and democracy
Formal, common in political journalism. Often used critically, as a warning label for a state seen as mixing religion and law too closely.
Etymology
From Greek theos 'god' and -kratia 'rule, power'.
Full origin of theocracy →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a theocracy and a state with an official religion?
A state religion is a formal endorsement, which can coexist with an entirely secular parliament and courts, as in England or Denmark. A theocracy goes further: religious authorities or religious law actually control legislation, the courts or the head of state.
What is the opposite of a theocracy?
A secular state, in which government and religious institutions are formally separated and laws are made without appeal to religious authority. France's laïcité and the United States' establishment clause are two different models of this.
