theocracy
pronunciation
How to pronounce theocracy in British English:
UK [θiˈɒkrəsi]
How to pronounce theocracy in American English:
US [θiˈɑkrəsi]
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- Noun:
- a political unit governed by a deity (or by officials thought to be divinely guided)
- the belief in government by divine guidance
Word Origin
- theocracy (n.)
- 1737; earlier as un-Latinized theocraty (1620s), "form of government in which God is recognized as supreme ruler and his laws form the statute book," originally of the sacerdotal government of Israel before the rise of kings, from later Greek theokratia (Josephus), literally "the rule of God," from theos "god" (see theo-) + kratos "a rule, regime, strength" (see -cracy). Meaning "priestly or religious body wielding political and civil power" is recorded from 1825. Related: Theocratic (1741).
Example
- 1. It is also significant that theocracy is not monolithic either .
- 2. For all the things america has got wrong in iraq , the government in baghdad is not the dictatorship or the theocracy that critics once saw as the only possible outcomes of this bungled war .
- 3. Iran is a self-proclaimed theocracy .
- 4. Even the muslim brothers look as if they will opt for civil society rather than theocracy .
- 5. I had hardly been outside my hotel , and already I realized that visiting a theocracy would be a memorable experience .