theocracy

[ thee-ok-ruh-see ]
/ θiˈɒk rə si /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR theocracy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural the·oc·ra·cies.

a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God's or deity's laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities.
a system of government by priests claiming a divine commission.
a commonwealth or state under such a form or system of government.

Origin of theocracy

From the Greek word theokratía, dating back to 1615–25. See theo-, -cracy

OTHER WORDS FROM theocracy

Words nearby theocracy

theobald, theobromine, theocentric, theoclymenus, theocon, theocracy, theocrasy, theocrat, theocritus, theodicy, theodolite

Example sentences from the Web for theocracy

British Dictionary definitions for theocracy

theocracy
/ (θɪˈɒkrəsɪ) /

noun plural -cies

government by a deity or by a priesthood
a community or political unit under such government

Derived forms of theocracy

theocrat, noun theocratic or theocratical, adjective theocratically, adverb

Cultural definitions for theocracy

theocracy
[ (thee-ok-ruh-see) ]

A nation or state in which the clergy exercise political power and in which religious law is dominant over civil law. Iran led by the Ayatollah Khomeini was a theocracy under the Islamic clergy. (See Islam.)