theocracy

noun

the·​oc·​ra·​cy thē-ˈä-krə-sē How to pronounce theocracy (audio)
plural theocracies
Synonyms of theocracynext
1
: government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided
2
: a state governed by a theocracy

Examples of theocracy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Very few advocated for the kind of theocracy that eventually emerged and went on to repress all non-Islamists. — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 5 Aug. 2025 Continued outreach only extends the life of a theocracy fundamentally opposed to democratic values. — Tom Ridge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025 No one’s shocked to see the dictatorships of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua lining up behind Iran’s repressive theocracy in its standoff with Israel. — Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025 The group’s leadership has met multiple times with the leaders of Iran, an Islamic theocracy and Israel’s chief regional adversary, including former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who denied the Holocaust. — Ben Sales, Sun Sentinel, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for theocracy

Word History

Etymology

Greek theokratia, from the- + -kratia -cracy

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of theocracy was in 1622

Rhymes for theocracy

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Browse Nearby Words

theocentric
theocracy
theocrasy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Theocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theocracy. Accessed 10 Aug. 2025.

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Kids Definition

theocracy

noun
the·​oc·​ra·​cy thē-ˈäk-rə-sē How to pronounce theocracy (audio)
plural theocracies
1
: government of a country by officials believed to have divine guidance
2
: a country governed by a theocracy

More from Merriam-Webster on theocracy

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for theocracy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about theocracy

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