praetorianism

[ pree-tawr-ee-uh-niz-uh m, -tohr- ]
/ priˈtɔr i əˌnɪz əm, -ˈtoʊr- /

noun

the control of a society by force or fraud, especially when exercised through titular officials and by a powerful minority.

Origin of praetorianism

First recorded in 1865–70; praetorian + -ism

Example sentences from the Web for praetorianism