1. a form of government in which one person or a small group has absolute power and control
2. a country ruled by a dictator
3. the period of time during which a dictator rules

Examples

• The country suffered under a brutal dictatorship for twenty years.
• Citizens had no freedom of speech during the dictatorship.
• The revolution ended the military dictatorship.
• Many people fled the dictatorship to seek refuge in neighboring countries.
• The dictatorship controlled all media and education.
• After the dictator’s death, the dictatorship collapsed quickly.
• Human rights were severely restricted under the dictatorship.