totalitarian
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.”
How to use totalitarian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes a government that controls almost every part of people's lives and crushes dissent.
Word forms
more totalitarian comparative, totalitarians plural, most totalitarian superlative
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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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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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