1. a system of government or political ideology based on imperial or autocratic rule, especially as practiced under a kaiser (German emperor).
Usage: historical; often used in reference to German imperial rule under the Kaisers, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries

Examples

• Kaiserism dominated German politics during the reign of Wilhelm II.
• The rise of kaiserism in Prussia led to increased militarization.
• Historians debate the extent to which kaiserism contributed to World War I.
• The ideology of kaiserism emphasized strong centralized authority and national expansion.
• After World War I, kaiserism was largely dismantled in Germany.