totalitarian

[toh-tal-i-tair-ee-uhn]

adjective

1. of or relating to a centralized government that does not tolerate parties of differing opinion and that exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life.

2. exercising control over the freedom, will, or thought of others; authoritarian; autocratic.

noun

1. an adherent of totalitarianism.

totalitarian

/ təʊˌtælɪˈtɛərɪən /

adjective

1. of, denoting, relating to, or characteristic of a dictatorial one-party state that regulates every realm of life

noun

1. a person who advocates or practises totalitarian policies

Other Word Forms

• totalitarianism noun
• antitotalitarian adjective
• nontotalitarian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of totalitarian¹

First recorded in 1925–30; totalit(y) + -arian

Word History and Origins

Origin of totalitarian¹

from _totality + _-arian

Example Sentences

Released in 1982 and set in 2025, it predicts a totalitarian America in which citizens are declared enemies of the state by a game show and forced to run from law enforcement and elite assassins.

From Salon

North Korea is one of the world's most repressive totalitarian states, with Kim and his family ruling the hermit nation for decades.

From BBC

What’s amazing about “Brazil,” even after 40 years, is how prophetic it was about the manipulation of public mores and knowledge by a totalitarian regime.

From Los Angeles Times

I don’t think the average law-abiding white American has taken the mental journey of what it means to be abducted by authorities, which is a commonplace scenario in totalitarian societies.

From Salon

Due to Germany's 20th-Century experience of oppressive Nazi and communist totalitarian regimes, there are high hurdles to restricting speech and banning publications and organisations.

From BBC

Related Words

• authoritarian 
• autocratic 
• monolithic 
• oppressive 
• tyrannical