Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Characterized by or favoring absolute obedience to authority, as against individual freedom.
  • adjective Tending to tell other people what to do in a peremptory or arrogant manner. synonym: dictatorial.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Favoring the principle of authority, as opposed to that of individual freedom.
  • noun One who supports the principle of authority, as opposed to that of individual freedom.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun behaves like a tyrant.
  • adjective characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty; -- of governments or rulers
  • adjective expecting unquestioning obedience: "he was imperious and dictatorial"; "the timid child of authoritarian parents"; "insufferably overbearing behavior toward the waiter"

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of, or relating to, absolute obedience to an authority.
  • adjective Characterised by a tyrannical obedience to an authority; dictatorial.
  • adjective Tending to impose one's demands upon others as if one was an authority.
  • noun One who commands absolute obedience to his or her authority.
  • noun One who follows and is excessively obedient to authority.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective expecting unquestioning obedience
  • noun a person who behaves in a tyrannical manner
  • adjective characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Circa 1880 authority +‎ -arian

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Examples

  • The term authoritarian is used to describe an organization or a state which enforces strong and sometimes oppressive measures against those in its sphere of influence, generally without attempts at gaining their consent and often not allowing feedback on its policies.

    Archive 2005-10-01 Garry 2005

  • The term authoritarian is used to describe an organization or a state which enforces strong and sometimes oppressive measures against those in its sphere of influence, generally without attempts at gaining their consent and often not allowing feedback on its policies.

    Authority and Objectivity Garry 2005

  • Frustrated by what they characterize as authoritarian work environments and less-generous pay scales - the typical new hire makes 30% less under the FAA's imposed terms - many veteran controllers have opted to retire in recent years.

    Former Pilots-Union Chief Has Inside Track to Lead FAA 2008

  • It openly proclaimed itself in favour of what it described as authoritarian rule.

    ANC Today 2007

  • It openly proclaimed itself in favour of what it described as authoritarian rule.

    ANC Today 2007

  • But 11 of those lawmakers have since broken with Chavez and his left-leaning coalition, citing what they call his authoritarian tendencies.

    CBS 2 - KCAL 9 - Los Angeles - Southern California - LA Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports 2010

  • But 11 of those lawmakers have since broken with Chavez and his left-leaning coalition, citing what they call his authoritarian tendencies.

    Newsvine - Get Smarter Here Christopher Toothaker 2010

  • But 11 of those lawmakers have since broken with Chavez and his left-leaning coalition, citing what they call his authoritarian tendencies.

    Newsvine - Get Smarter Here Christopher Toothaker 2010

  • But 11 of those lawmakers have since broken with Chavez and his left-leaning coalition, citing what they call his authoritarian tendencies.

    ajc.com - News CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER 2010

  • But 11 of those lawmakers have since broken with Chavez and his left-leaning coalition, citing what they call his authoritarian tendencies.

    CBS 2 - KCAL 9 - Los Angeles - Southern California - LA Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports 2010

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