# dictator

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪkˈteɪtə/ · frequency rank #11,869

## Definitions
1. A totalitarian leader of a country, nation, or government.
2. A magistrate without colleague in republican Ancient Rome, who held full executive authority for a term granted by the Senate, typically to conduct a war.
3. A tyrannical boss or authority figure.
4. Misspelling of dictater.

## Etymology
From Latin dictātor (“a chief magistrate”), from dictō (“dictate, prescribe”), from dīcō (“say, speak”). By surface analysis, dictate + -or, literally “one who dictates”. Compare Old English tictator (“absolute ruler of the Roman Republic”).

## Easily confused with
- **dictate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dictate-vs-dictator)
- **dictated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dictated-vs-dictator)
- **dictation** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dictation-vs-dictator)

## Common misspellings (12)
`dcitator`, `ddictator`, `dicattor`, `dicctator`, `dictaotr`, `dictatorr`, `dictatro`, `dictattor`, `dicttaor`, `dicttator`, `ditcator`, `idctator`

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