Totalitarianism - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Totalitarianism is a political system where the government has complete control over society, suppressing individual freedoms and opposing views. It often involves strict censorship and centralized authority.
Definition:
A political system where the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.
Synonyms:
authoritarianism, dictatorship, autocracy, despotism
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
democracy, freedom
Common Collocations:
oppressive totalitarianism, rise of totalitarianism, fight against totalitarianism, totalitarian regime, resist totalitarianism
Derivatives:
totalitarian (adj), totalitarianist (noun)
Usage Tips:
Use "totalitarianism" to describe extreme centralized control, often in historical or political contexts. Avoid for minor restrictions.
Common Phrases:
under totalitarianism, the grip of totalitarianism, fall of totalitarianism
Etymology:
Derived from Italian "totalitario," meaning absolute or complete, combined with "-ism" to denote a system or ideology.
Examples:
- 1. The novel depicts life under brutal totalitarianism.
- 2. Totalitarianism suppresses individual freedoms and dissent.
- 3. Historians study the rise of totalitarianism in 20th-century Europe.
- 4. Citizens resisted the regime's move toward totalitarianism.