adj
Uncommon
totalitarian
tohta-lih-TEH-uh-ree-uhn
Totalitarian (adj) means describing a system of government in which the state has total control over public and private life, and opposition is not tolerated. Example: “Historians study how totalitarian regimes rose to power in the 20th century.”
adj
1
Describing a system of government in which the state has total control over public and private life, and opposition is not tolerated.
"Historians study how totalitarian regimes rose to power in the 20th century."
noun
1
A supporter of totalitarian government.
"The pamphlet was written by a self-declared totalitarian."
How to use totalitarian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes a government that controls almost every part of people's lives and crushes dissent.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
totalitarian regime
totalitarian state
totalitarian control
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Word forms
- Plural
- totalitarians
- Comparative
- more totalitarian
- Superlative
- most totalitarian
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Historians study how _____ regimes rose to power in the 20th century.
Etymology
From Italian totalitario, "complete, absolute," combined with the suffix -an.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for totalitarian
See all rhymes for totalitarian →Frequently asked questions
What does “totalitarian” mean?
The word “totalitarian” means describing a system of government in which the state has total control over public and private life, and opposition is not tolerated. In plain terms, describes a government that controls almost every part of people's lives and crushes dissent.
How do you pronounce “totalitarian”?
“Totalitarian” is pronounced tohta-lih-TEH-uh-ree-uhn (/ˌtoʊtəlɪˈtɛɹiən/ in IPA).
How do you use “totalitarian” in a sentence?
Here is “totalitarian” used in a sentence: “Historians study how totalitarian regimes rose to power in the 20th century.”
What part of speech is “totalitarian”?
Depending on how it is used, “totalitarian” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “totalitarian” come from?
The word “totalitarian” comes from Italian. From Italian totalitario, "complete, absolute," combined with the suffix -an.
Is “totalitarian” a common word?
“Totalitarian” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “totalitarian” have?
“Totalitarian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: describing a system of government in which the state has total control over public and private life, and opposition is not tolerated.
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