# despotism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdɛspətɪzəm/ · frequency rank #55,380

## Definitions
1. Government by a despot or despots: rule by a singular authority, either a single person or a tight-knit group, which rules with absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way.

## Etymology
From French despotisme; equivalent to despot + -ism.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/despotism