totalitarian

UK: /təʊˌtælɪˈtɛəriən/

US: /toʊˌtælɪˈtɛriən/

US: (tō tal′i târ′ē ən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

to•tal•i•tar•i•an /toʊˌtælɪˈtɛriən/   adj. 

1. Government of or relating to a centralized government that does not allow differing opinion:
   the totalitarian system of George Orwell's novel 1984.

n. [countable]

2. Government a person calling for such a form of government.

to•tal•i•tar•i•an•ism, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

to•tal•i•tar•i•an  (tō tal′i târ′ē ən), adj. 

1. of or pertaining to a centralized government that does not tolerate parties of differing opinion and that exercises dictatorial control over many aspects of life.
2. exercising control over the freedom, will, or thought of others;
   authoritarian;
   autocratic.

n. 

3. an adherent of totalitarianism.

• totalit(y) + -arian 1925–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

totalitarian / təʊˌtælɪˈtɛərɪən/ adjective

1. of, denoting, relating to, or characteristic of a dictatorial one-party state that regulates every realm of life
   Also called: totalistic

noun

1. a person who advocates or practises totalitarian policies

Etymology: from totality + -arian

toˌtaliˈtarianism noun