# timocracy

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A form of government in which ambition for honor, power and military glory motivates the rulers.
2. A form of government in which civic honor or political power increases with the amount of property one owns.

## Etymology
1580s, from Middle French tymocracie, from Medieval Latin (13th century) timocratia, from Ancient Greek τῑμοκρατίᾱ (tīmokratíā), from τῑμή (tīmḗ, “valuation; honor”) + -κρατίᾱ (-kratíā, “a rule, reign”), from κρατέω (kratéō, “to rule”) (see -cracy).

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