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DictionaryRoot: kratos
Greek

kratos

strength, power, or rule

Forms

  • kratos
  • crat- — A Latin-style spelling retained in English.
  • -cracy — Developed from related Greek words for rule.

Origin

An inherited Greek word with older Indo-European ancestry.

Note

Strength can become the ability or authority to govern.

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adjective

autocratic

aw-tuh-KRAT-ik/ˌɔːtəˈkrætɪk/

Exercising absolute power or demanding unquestioned obedience.

The manager's autocratic style leaves employees no say in important decisions.

A severe South Asian fictional manager dictates instructions while colleagues have no chance to speak.
Etymology
autoGreekself or one's own
+cratGreekstrength, power, or rule
+icEnglishconnected with or characteristic of

“Self” and “power” combine in the idea of ruling by oneself. Autocratic power belongs to a ruler who governs independently of restrictions, rather than through others’ consent.

In context

AmandaFoxFlipped1:31
I'm going to give you two examples of types of autocratic government one being an absolute or totalitarian dictatorship
Autocracy

More examples

  • The country endured decades of autocratic rule.
  • An autocratic leader may refuse to explain decisions.
  • The committee rejected his autocratic approach to a shared project.

Forms

autocrat noun — Someone who holds or demands complete power.

Similar words

authoritarian
Emphasizes strict obedience and suppression of independent judgment.
dictatorial
Suggests issuing orders with little tolerance for opposition.